# Do Asian people with Down's Syndrome look any different from the rest of the population? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 26, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159 "2012-11-26T15:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/1 "2012-11-26T15:17:37Z")
This very non-PC question popped into my head last week, and it won’t go away. Down’s Syndrome was originally known as Mongolism, because people with it looked “Oriental.” So can you tell a similarly afflicted Asian person without a chromosome test? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/2 "2012-11-26T16:21:01Z")
A Google image search for “Asian Down syndrome” will quickly answer your question, as well as exposing you to the usual racism expected on the internet these days. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/3 "2012-11-26T16:27:24Z")
Yes, of course. “Mongoloid Idiots” were classified by Down as such because they had epicanthic folds and relatively flat faces. But there are many other physical traits associated with the syndrome, such as a protruding tongue, short neck, etc. Down also recognized other “racial” types of retardation, such as “Ethiopian Idiots” who supposedly showed African characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/4 "2012-11-26T16:30:25Z")
There are a lot of Caucasian Asians, the Caucases mountains are mostly in Asia. So is most of Turkey, all of Israel, most of the mid east, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan etc etc.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/5 "2012-11-26T16:35:01Z")
To Orientals, they probably look like Europeans. 😉 More seriously, while they look to me like they have some Oriental characteristics, they don’t look quite like Oriental even to me. To Orientals, who have far more refined abilities to recognize Oriental features (e.g., to tell Chines from Japanese at a glance, which I can’t do), I’m sure they look unmistakably like people with Down’s Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/6 "2012-11-26T16:38:05Z")
Operating on the assumption that you are posting this question in good faith… No one in their right mind would believe a Down Syndrome patient genuinely resembles an Asian. This is a piece of Victorian-era racism which does not deserve to be repeated in the modern age. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/7 "2012-11-26T16:47:29Z")
> [@solosam](#): > > Operating on the assumption that you are posting this question in good faith… Based on years of reading her posting history, she really did ask that question in good faith. Make of that what you will. As others have said, a two second Google search could answer this. In short, non-Asian people with Downs don’t really look Asian. Asian people with Downs look different from Asian people without Downs just like people with other heritages. While we’re at it, there is a wide variety of looks throughout the vast hugeness of Asia. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/8 "2012-11-26T16:56:45Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > There are a lot of Caucasian Asians, the Caucases mountains are mostly in Asia. So is most of Turkey, all of Israel, most of the mid east, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan etc etc.:rolleyes: You’re missing the point. She’s a Yank, she means Oriental. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/9 "2012-11-26T20:40:25Z")
I’m Japanese-American and hail from a high-Asian-population US state. I used to work at a daycare center that had a 3-year-old Chinese Down Syndrome kid. You could definitely tell he had Down Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/10 "2012-11-26T21:01:17Z")
Down’s Syndrome has physical characteristics on the body, for instance people with it only have one large crease (simian crease) on their palm as opposed to 2. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/11 "2012-11-26T21:02:13Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > This very non-PC question popped into my head last week, and it won’t go away. > > Down’s Syndrome was originally known as Mongolism, because people with it looked “Oriental.” So can you tell a similarly afflicted Asian person without a chromosome test? It should probably be noted that most people who are very slow mentally don’t have Downs Syndrome and you wouldn’t be able to tell by just just looking at them. It only becomes apparent after interacting with them. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/12 "2012-11-26T22:15:48Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Down’s Syndrome has physical characteristics on the body, for instance people with it only have one large crease (simian crease) on their palm as opposed to 2. Two? I have three! What does it all mean? (I think you mean one transverse crease and two total as opposed to two transverse creases and three total on most people). ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/13 "2012-11-26T23:40:28Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It should probably be noted that most people who are very slow mentally don’t have Downs Syndrome and you wouldn’t be able to tell by just just looking at them. It only becomes apparent after interacting with them. And people with Mosaic Downs Syndrome have the Downs appearance, but they are smarter than retarded, some of them have graduated university. Can anyone post a link to pictures? I don’t want to be flagged by the network admins as a bigot. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/14 "2012-11-27T02:28:19Z")
The “look” I associate with Down Syndrome doesn’t match with any race or body type I know of. I see that unique softness of features and instantly think Downs. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/15 "2012-11-27T03:02:09Z")
I lived in China for decades, and you can most certainly tell someone Chinese that has Downs. Well, let me rephrase that, the Chinese with Down’s that were obvious to me had the obvious physical characteristics. The one that stands out to me is minimal/lack of earlobes. Here’s one from a random Search photo of an Asian with Down’s with what, I as a complete laymen, would call as having Down’s physical characteristics. [http://blogs.reuters.com/uknews/files/2008/11/down.jpg](http://blogs.reuters.com/uknews/files/2008/11/down.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/16 "2012-11-27T03:04:38Z")
I thought the term “Oriental” to refer to people was frowned on, nowadays. EDIT: > [@](#): > > The one that stands out to me is minimal/lack of earlobes. I’ve known people who are cognitively, and presumably chromosomally, normal, and who have a similar lack of earlobes (without the rest of the physical characteristics of Down’s). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/17 "2012-11-27T04:09:50Z")
I have seen Thais with Down syndrome and can confirm they look very different from normal Thais. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/18 "2012-11-27T06:54:58Z")
Asians with Down’s look very different from Asians who don’t have Down’s, but to me the difference between them isn’t as great as the difference between whites with and without Down’s …if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/19 "2012-11-27T07:09:03Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Here’s one from a random Search photo of an Asian with Down’s with what, I as a complete laymen, would call as having Down’s physical characteristics. [http://blogs.reuters.com/uknews/files/2008/11/down.jpg](http://blogs.reuters.com/uknews/files/2008/11/down.jpg) Thanks for the link > [@Chronos](#): > > I thought the term “Oriental” to refer to people was frowned on, nowadays. I think the PC term nowadays is “Fun-Sized” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-asian-people-with-downs-syndrome-look-any-different-from-the-rest-of-the-population/642159/20 "2012-11-27T21:48:38Z")
“Oriental” is still used in Britain. “Asian” in Britain and South Africa would mean South Asian rather than Far Eastern. I have a little kid cousin with Down’s. He looks like a little kid–with Down’s. I guess his eye socket depth might be more like a typical Far Eastern person’s or something. Mostly he’s small…