Performance and Ratings Based Measures of Executive Function in School-Aged Children with Down Syndrome

We examined performance-based laboratory tasks and ratings-based assessments of executive function (EF) in school-aged children with Down syndrome and mental-age matched peers along with adaptive functioning.

A battery of assessments including EF laboratory tasks was collected.

The DS group performed both working memory/inhibition and planning laboratory tasks with significant challenges. Moderate correlations were evident only between some laboratory tasks and ratings-based EF domains. However, ratings-based EF better predicted adaptive function than performance on an EF laboratory-based task.

Findings underscore the need to address early and targeted EF intervention in children with DS.