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Nutrition Assessment of the Child with Down Syndrome

  • Chapter
Clinical Perspectives in the Management of Down Syndrome

Part of the book series: Disorders of Human Learning, Behavior, and Communication ((HUMAN LEARNING))

Abstract

Nutrition assessment of children is based upon careful evaluation of several parameters that, taken together, provide an indication of their nutritional health. These parameters include clinical (physical examination, anthropometry), dietary (present nutrient intake, historical data), and biochemical (nutrient stores, functional tests) measures. Often, children with special needs also require an assessment of feeding skills, as their delayed or abnormal development may affect food intake. Of these measures, anthropometry, or the measurement of growth and body composition in the child, is the most objective indicator of that child’s nutritional status. Decreased nutrient intake, due to feeding problems or poor diet, will ultimately be reflected in poor growth and/or decreased fat and muscle mass. Overnutrition, due to overeating and/or decreased physical activity, ultimately is reflected in increased fat stores.

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Authors
  1. Marion Taylor Baer
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  2. Jan Waldron
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  3. Heather Gumm
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  4. Don C. Van Dyke
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  5. Hyejung Chang
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Don C. Van Dyke

  2. Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, 92668, USA

    David J. Lang

  3. San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center, West Covina, CA, 91790, USA

    Frances Heide

  4. Chicago, IL, 60181, USA

    Susan van Duyne

  5. Division of Developmental Disabilities, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    M. Joan Soucek

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Baer, M.T., Waldron, J., Gumm, H., Van Dyke, D.C., Chang, H. (1990). Nutrition Assessment of the Child with Down Syndrome. In: Van Dyke, D.C., Lang, D.J., Heide, F., van Duyne, S., Soucek, M.J. (eds) Clinical Perspectives in the Management of Down Syndrome. Disorders of Human Learning, Behavior, and Communication. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9644-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9644-4_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9646-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9644-4

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