Diadochokinetic Assessment in Persons With Down Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Diadochokinetic (DDK) assessment was carried out on 30 Kannada-speaking persons with Down syndrome in the age range of 11;6 to 14;6 years. The responses were compared with those of mental age-matched persons with cognitive impairment (without Down syndrome) and typically developing children. Rate, accuracy, consistency, and numbers of attempts were calculated for DDK tasks. Persons with Down syndrome exhibited slower rates, greater errors in accuracy of production, lower consistency, and greater numbers of attempts to perform the DDK tasks. The study also explored the possible presence of childhood apraxia of speech in these individuals. Errors that suggested apraxic-like deficits were slower rates for sequential motion rate (SMR) tasks, greater errors on SMR tasks, poorer consistency on SMR tasks, and more attempts.