Profiles of Everyday Executive Functioning in Young Children With Down Syndrome

Abstract

We investigated executive functioning (EF) in children with Down syndrome (DS; n = 25) and typically developing (TD) children matched for mental age (MA; n = 23) using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool. We sought to (1) compare children with DS to a developmentally matched control group, and (2) to characterize the EF profile of children with DS. Across teacher and parent reports, significant deficits in working memory and planning were observed in the DS group. Parents, but not teachers, of children with DS also reported difficulties in inhibitory control relative to the comparison group. Results extend earlier findings regarding EF impairments in children with DS. The complementary role inhibitory control may play in this profile is discussed.