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PARENTS OF DOWN'S SYNDROME BABIES: THEIR EARLY NEEDS *
Author(s) -
CUNNINGHAM CLIFF C.,
SLOPER TRICIA
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.1977.tb00056.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , pediatrics , medicine
Summary The paper reports the results of detailed interviews with parents of Down's syndrome infants shortly after their being informed of the diagnosis. It reviews previous studies and confirms a number of findings. 1 The majority of parents wish to be told of the diagnosis as soon as possible and with the spouse present. 2 They do not automatically resent the ‘teller’. 3 They wish to be told directly but sympathetically, in private and have access to the baby. 4 Several interviews are needed at short intervals following the initial telling for parents to ask further questions and to assimilate more information about their child's condition.