ERIC Number: EJ828665
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0891-4222
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Variability of Cognitive Development in Children with Down Syndrome: Relevance of Good Reasons for Using the Cluster Procedure
Tsao, R.; Kindelberger, C.
Research in Developmental Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, v30 n3 p426-432 May-Jun 2009
The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to demonstrate that, in addition to a main change during childhood, the cognitive development of children with Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by interindividual variability in their cognitive functioning. Eighty-eight French children with DS took part in this experiment. They were divided into six chronological age groups: 6 years (N = 9), 7 years (N = 19), 8 years (N = 18), 9 years (N = 19), 10 years (N = 14) and 11 years (N = 9). They were assessed by means of the Differential Scales of Intellectual Efficiency. This test, composed of six independent scales, measures verbal abilities and nonverbal reasoning abilities. Initial analyses of the verbal and nonverbal subtest scores indicated a main change in cognitive skills. We then used a clustering approach to identify four cognitive profiles that distinguished the children with DS independently of age and gender. The results confirm that there is a growth in the cognitive skills of DS children. They also suggest that the cognitive functioning of DS children is characterized by different individual profiles. Implications for more fine-tuned research and intervention efforts are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Age Groups, Down Syndrome, Verbal Ability, Profiles, Cognitive Development, Case Studies, Children, Experiments, Thinking Skills
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A