Psychometric evaluation of a working memory assessment measure in young children with Down syndrome

Working memory involves the temporary storage and manipulation of information and is frequently an area of challenge for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Despite the potential benefits of intervention, laboratory assessments of working memory that could capture intervention effects have not undergone rigorous evaluation for use with young children with DS. It is critical to evaluate assessments of working memory in young children with DS to ensure the reliable and accurate measurement of performance.

This study evaluated an adapted laboratory measure of working memory for young children with DS 2-8 years old.

A self-ordered pointing task, the Garage Game, was administered to 78 children with DS (mean = 5.17 years; SD = 1.49). Adaptations were made to the task to minimize potential DS phenotype-related language and motor confounds.

Results indicate that the measure is feasible, scalable, and developmentally sensitive, with minimal floor and practice effects for this population within this chronological and developmental age range.

These findings demonstrate that the Garage Game is promising for use in studies of early working memory and treatment trials that aim to support the development of this critical dimension of executive functioning for children with DS.