COGNITIVE-SPEECH REHABILITATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME: A HOLISTIC NEUROFUNCTIONAL STRATEGY AND CLINICAL METHODS

Down syndrome, caused by trisomy of the 21st chromosome, is the most common genetic abnormality, occurring with a frequency of 1:700-800 newborns worldwide. The genetic imbalance in this syndrome leads to complex neurodevelopmental disorders, manifested in a specific cognitive profile and significant peculiarities in the formation of speech functions. Modern neuroimaging studies demonstrate characteristic structural changes in the brain of individuals with Down syndrome: reduction in total brain volume (by 17-20%), disproportionately small sizes of the cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobes, white matter abnormalities, and synaptogenesis disorders. These neuromorphological features determine the unique nature of cognitive development and require a differentiated approach to rehabilitation.