Cognitive Development We Conducted Our

Cognitive Development

We conducted our research on a male toddler, aged 12 months, whose mother is 25. The boy was born premature and with Down's syndrome. We believe that the birth defects may have been due to the mother having engaged in the following behaviors while pregnant: smoking commercial cigarettes, about a pack a day; smoking marijuana occasionally, and drinking alcohol occasionally. The mother also did not eat a balanced diet while pregnant. Because of the mother's habits while pregnant and because she is not yet financially self-sufficient, the grandparents of the baby will assume all legal and actual parental responsibilities. It is likely that the mother will soon go away for school and possibly substance abuse rehabilitation, based on her interview.

The effects of the mother's lifestyle on her child are evident in his birth abnormalities, especially having Down's syndrome and being born underdeveloped. It is widely known in the research that children with Down's syndrome develop their cognitive abilities slower than their counterparts who do not have Down's syndrome. However, the young boy makes many gestures in order to communicate, such as waving his hands and arms. We perceive his ability to communicate as indicating a relatively high level of awareness of the world around him, and a knowledge that he can and should interact with other people. He also responds to hearing his first name being spoken and can tell the difference between the sound of his mother and grandmother's voice and the voice of other women.