More than 100 children with Down syndrome are taking part in a unique project which researchers say could help them better understand the condition.
A project led by Cardiff University, called The Tiny Explorer study, is using helmets with cameras on them to look into the daily lives of children to see how they interact with the world around them.
Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome in a person’s cells – and around 1 in 800 babies born in
the UK has Down syndrome.
The families involved in the project have children ranging from two months to 5 years old.
When they sign up their child wears the helmet for a period of time and it records what they’re looking at and what they’re doing. The goal is to look at their attention and movement skills and how this affects their daily lives.
It is thought there are approximately 40,000 people with Down syndrome in the UK.
Researcher Charlotte Bocchetta said, “We count the number of faces they see and the number of hands. That way experts like physiotherapists and clinicians who help the child can get a real sense of what the child is paying attention to in their home life”.
She also pointed out that this way of researching “gives the child a voice, they might not be able to express what they’re thinking, or what they’re experiencing but through the video we can understand more”.
Sofia Hryniv, another researcher said that on a day like World Down Syndrome day it was “a huge thing” to know the research is taking place.
“It’s rare to find research on children with Down syndrome. Having this visibility, and having people engage with this… really raises the understanding and the importance of supporting every child.”
The research is still ongoing but their goal is to reach a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of children with Down syndrome. Their hope is that parents can be better supported and their children can reach their full potential.