Evaluating an adapted reverse categorisation task to assess cognitive flexibility in young children with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Accurate measurement of cognitive skills is necessary to advance both developmental and intervention science for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). This study evaluated the feasibility, developmental sensitivity and preliminary reliability of a reverse categorisation measure designed to assess cognitive flexibility in young children with DS. METHODS: Seventy-two children with DS ages 2.5-8 years completed an adapted version of a reverse categorisation task. Twenty-eight of the participants were assessed again 2 weeks later for retest reliability. RESULTS: This adapted measure demonstrated adequate feasibility and developmental sensitivity, and preliminary evidence for test-retest reliability when administered to children with DS in this age range. CONCLUSIONS: This adapted reverse categorisation measure may be useful for future developmental and treatment studies that target early foundations of cognitive flexibility in young children with DS. Additional recommendations for use of this measure are discussed.

Latent profiles of autism symptoms in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with elevated rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism symptomatology. To better characterise heterogeneity in ASD symptomatology in DS, profiles of caregiver-reported ASD symptoms were modelled for children and adolescents with DS. METHODS: Participants (n = 125) were recruited through several multi-site research studies on cognition and language in DS. Using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2; Constantino and Gruber 2012), two latent profile analyses (LPA) were performed, one on the broad composite scores of social communication and interaction and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour, and a second on the four social dimensions of social communication, social motivation, social awareness, and social cognition. RESULTS: A three-profile model was the best fit for both analyses, with each analysis yielding a low ASD symptom profile, an elevated or mixed ASD symptom profile and a high ASD symptom profile. Associations were observed between profile probability scores and IQ, the number of co-occurring biomedical conditions reported, sex, and SRS-2 form. CONCLUSIONS: Characterising heterogeneity in ASD symptom profiles can inform more personalised supports in this population, and implications for potential therapeutic approaches for individuals with DS are discussed.