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	Nearly 100 children with&nbsp;Down Syndrome&nbsp;have lost their discretionary medical cards in the last year, according to a survey.</h2>
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		The survey by&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1em;">Down Syndr</span><span style="font-size: 1em;">ome</span>Ireland this week shows many lost the cards despite having various conditions which left them with medical bills.</p>
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		A spokeswoman pointed out that about half of all people with Down Syndrome are born with a heart defect.</p>
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		Gastrointestinal conditions are also commonly associated with Down Syndrome as are certain types of cancer, hearing loss, cervical spine instability and visual impairment.</p>
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		&quot;Most children with Down Syndrome attend weekly&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1em;">speech and language thera</span><span style="font-size: 1em;">py</span>&nbsp;sessions, the cost of which doubles at the loss of medical cards. Weekly&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1em;">occupational</span><span style="font-size: 1em;"> therapy&nbsp;</span>sessions also cost in the region of &euro;50 a week.</p>
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		&quot;Many parents of children with Down Syndrome need to visit a GP almost weekly to manage their children&#39;s medical conditions, at a cost of &euro;65 each time.&quot;</p>
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		<a href="http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/down-syndrome-children-losing-medical-cards-29696125.html">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/down-syndrome-children-losing-medical-cards-29696125.html</a></p>
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