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. 2023 Aug;67(8):734-745.
doi: 10.1111/jir.13040. Epub 2023 May 23.

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

K Van Deusen  1 , M A Prince  1 , A J Thurman  2   3 , A J Esbensen  4   5 , L R Patel  6 , L Abbeduto  2   3 , M M Walsh  1 , L A Daunhauer  1 , R T Feigles  2   3 , D J Fidler  1
Affiliations

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

K Van Deusen et al. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Down syndrome; children; cognitive flexibility; executive function; measurement.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have a conflict of interest to report.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Visualisation of post-switch correct trials by chronological age group. This pirate plot shows the accuracy of participants in the post-switch trials by their chronological age year. Pirate plots show measures of central tendency and capture the distribution of data across each of the age bands by plotting observed individual scores.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Visualisation of post-switch correct trials by mental age groups of 1 year. This pirate plot shows the accuracy of participants in the post-switch trials by their mental age year. The mental age estimate was derived from scores using the Bayley cognitive (n = 15) and the SB5-ABIQ (n = 57). Pirate plots show measures of central tendency and capture the distribution of data across each of the age bands by plotting observed individual scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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