Multidisciplinary early intervention in Down syndrome: a retrospective study
Alice E Piatti1, Bianca Stefani1, Giulia Bini2
1Developmental Severe Disabilities Unit, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Early, structured, multidisciplinary interventions significantly improve neurocognitive outcomes in children with Down Syndrome (DS). This approach, focused on the child and family, proves more effective than conventional care.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Pediatric medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Early, global, multidisciplinary, family-based care is crucial for children with disabilities, including Down Syndrome (DS).
- The effectiveness of structured, multidisciplinary early intervention versus conventional care for DS requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if a structured, multidisciplinary early intervention improves developmental and cognitive outcomes in children with DS.
- To compare outcomes between children with DS receiving early intervention and those receiving conventional care.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 20 children with Down Syndrome (DS).
- An experimental group received early treatment (0-36 months).
- Cognitive functioning was assessed at 5 years using the WPPSI-III scale.
Main Results:
- Children with DS exhibit a typical developmental profile.
- The experimental group demonstrated higher mean scores across all assessed quotients compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Early, structured, multidisciplinary interventions are fundamental in improving neurocognitive outcomes for children with Down Syndrome (DS).
- The outpatient service model provides effective early management for individuals with DS through a structured, multidisciplinary approach.
Background:
Scientific community agrees on the importance of early, global multidisciplinary family-based care in the neuropsychological development of children with disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome (DS). This study aim to assess whether a structured, multidisciplinary early intervention carried out at the outpatient service of Stella Maris I.R.C.C.S. can lead to better outcomes in children with DS, in development and cognitive functioning, compared to conventional care provided by the local health centres (ASL).
Methods:
We included in the study 20 children with DS. The experimental group received early treatment (0-36 months), while the control group only underwent cognitive assessments. In order to examine the outcome of long-term cognitive functioning, our study evaluated assessments of the children at 5 years of age, by administering the WPPSI-III scale.
Results:
In our result we can confirm the typical profile of children with Down Syndrome described in the literature. Comparing the results obtained in both groups, we see that the mean scores obtained by the experimental group, in all three of the quotients examined, are higher than the mean scores obtained by the control group.
Conclusions:
This study makes it clear that early, structured, multidisciplinary interventions play a fundamental role in modifying neurocognitive outcomes in children with Down Syndrome. The results of this study thus confirm the usefulness of the outpatient service in the early management of individuals with DS, following a multidisciplinary, structured pathway focused on the child and his/her family.
Related Concept Videos
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Intellectual Disability


