Semantic Verbal Fluency in Youth with Down Syndrome: Analysis of Conventional and Contextual Cluster Formation

Expressive language delays and executive functioning challenges are common in youth with Down syndrome (DS). Verbal fluency is one method to investigate these constructs. We examined semantic verbal fluency responses to determine patterns in response generation and the psychometric properties of cod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain sciences 2021-12, Vol.12 (1), p.9
Main Authors: Schworer, Emily K, Belizaire, Shequanna, Hoffman, Emily K, Esbensen, Anna J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal cognition
child
Children & youth
Clinical trials
Down syndrome
Down's syndrome
Executive function
Language
Memory
psychometrics
Quantitative psychology
Semantics
trisomy 21
verbal fluency
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Summary:Expressive language delays and executive functioning challenges are common in youth with Down syndrome (DS). Verbal fluency is one method to investigate these constructs. We examined semantic verbal fluency responses to determine patterns in response generation and the psychometric properties of coded cluster formations. Participants were 97 children and adolescents with DS ranging in age from 6 to 19 years old. The semantic verbal fluency task was administered at two time points, two weeks apart. Heterogeneity in performance was observed for responses when coded either with conventional or contextual classifications. Overall, the number of switches in conventional classifications was greater than contextual classifications. This implies that participants did not use traditional (conventional) categories to organize their semantic verbal fluency responses, but may have been using contextual strategies. However, the number of switches and cluster size variables had poor to moderate test-retest reliability, which indicated that participants did not stay consistent with their performance over the two-week testing interval, regardless of the strategies used. Therefore, conventional and contextual clusters and switches as a measure of executive control may not be appropriate for all individuals with DS and additional attention is warranted to determine the utility of response coding in this population.
ISSN:2076-3425
2076-3425
DOI:10.3390/brainsci12010009