Downs syndrome self talk

Dear Denise,

From our experience at the DSA lots of people with Down's syndrome self-talk or talk to themselves.

People often use self-talk to let off steam, direct their own behaviour, to think out loud or to entertain themselves. In the vast majority of cases; self-talk is not a cause for concern. It is normal and appropriate for people with Down's syndrome.

What we have heard from families is that self-talk is an important coping tool and only rarely should it be considered a symptom of mental illness or psychosis.

When to perhaps be concerned is when a dramatic change occurs in the frequency and/or content of the self-talk. This may indicate a mental health or situational problem. Self-talk does appear to allow adults with Down's syndrome to problem-solve, to vent their feelings, to entertain themselves, and to process the events of their daily lives.

Having said that I can fully understand your concerns that it draws attention to your daughter in public.

Brian Chicoine & Dennis McGuire (authors of Mental Wellness In Adults With Down syndrome) have written a list of 'Self-talk Do's and Dont's' :

- Don't make the person with Down's syndrome feel bad because she uses self-talk.

- Don't try to eliminate self-talk.

- Discuss self-talk with the person: self-talk is ok but some people don't understand or are bothered by it, so not doing it in front of others is polite.

- Do encourage appropriate (socially acceptable) places for self-talk and gently discourage inappropriate places (such as at work or at school).

- Consider having a private signal to remind the person if she is doing self-talk in public.

- Discuss self-talk with others who come in contact with the person with Down syndrome (explain the normalcy).

Warm Wishes
Stuart Mills
Information Officer
Down's Syndrome Association

Hi Denise,

The details of the book are as follows:

'Mental Wellness In Adults With Down Syndrome' by Dennis McGuire & Brian Chicoine (Woodbine House, 2006).

You can purchase the book via Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mental-Wellness-Adults-Down-Syndrome/dp/1890627658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339401859&sr=8-1

Also by the same authors a very useful guide to good health for teens and adults with Down's syndrome (Woodbine House, 2010).

Best Wishes
Stuart

Stuart Mills
Information Officer
Down's Syndrome Association
Website: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
T: 0208 614 5100 | F: 0208 614 5127
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