Preliminary psychometric properties of an inhibition task in young children with Down syndrome

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disabilities 2023-12, p.17446295231218776
• Main Authors: Walsh, Madison M, Van Deusen, Kaylyn, Prince, Mark A, Esbensen, Anna J, Thurman, Angela John, Pinks, Miranda E, Patel, Lina R, Feigles, Robyn Tempero, Abbeduto, Leonard, Daunhauer, Lisa A, Fidler, Deborah J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1744-6295; 1744-6309; 1744-6309
• DOI: 10.1177/17446295231218776

Executive function (EF) skills are important treatment targets for people with Down syndrome (DS); however, few EF measures have been evaluated for use with young children in this population. : The present study evaluated preliminary psychometric properties of a measure of the EF component of inhibition. Participants were 73 children with DS between 2.5 and 8.67 years old who completed an adapted ability to delay task using a desirable toy. : Across two separate trials, latencies to touch the toys were significantly correlated. Latencies increased overall with chronological and mental age, with caveats for the youngest and oldest participants. : Findings suggest that an adapted prohibition task is an appropriate method of measuring inhibition for children with DS between 4 and 7 years old, though many children in this chronological age range are at early stages of acquiring this skill set.