The marked increase in life-expectancy in Down syndrome since the 1990s, although a very good sign in itself, raises important questions regarding the health issues, cognitive involution and social and professional inclusion of people with the condition. In this text, a large group of leading specialists have supplied a series of papers on many aspects of this issue, ranging from epidemiology, genetics, medical issues, Alzheimer's disease, cognition and language, to sexual behaviour and contraception, family issues, professional orientation and work experiences.

This book should be of interest to physicians, psychologists, social workers and educators working in the field who wish to provide evidence-based interventions for persons with Down syndrome advancing in age.

Advances in biobehavioural sciences are bringing important changes in the field of intellectual disabilities. Of particular interest is the description of particular behavioural phenotypes related to but distinct from genotypes, and the extent to which they are specific. In this text, more than 20 particular genetic syndromes with marked levels of intellectual disability are identified and described from a variety of points of view, including cognitive, language, behavioural, adaptive and social and community inclusion aspects. Readers should better understand genetic intellectual disabilities and how they affect individual behaviours. Researchers and practitioners, including mental health professionals, speech--language therapists, special educators and social workers, should learn considerably more about actively researched syndromes such as Down, Williams, Fragile--X, Prader--Willi, Angelman, Rett, 5--p (Cri--du--chat), Noonan and several others, and obtain the evidence--based information they need to improve developmental, educational, occupational and residential situations, favouring inclusion for the people with intellectual disability syndromes.

This text provides speech and language therapists and language researchers with a state-of-the art review covering all aspects of speech and language development in individuals with Down syndrome. Written by leading experts in the field, it includes chapters on: the principles which should guide intervention; prelinguistic development; pragmatics and communication; literacy and language; augmentative communication; intervention with adolescents and adults; maintenance of skills for older adults; and a perspective on pertinent issues. Each chapter summarizes research and provides guidelines for effective interventions.

This book should be a valuable guide to those working in the field who wish to be able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals with Down syndrome and to contribute to their quality of life by improving their communication skills.