COMMUNICATIVE AND SENSORIMOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNS-SYNDROME CHILDREN

Abstract

Imperative and declarative performative behavior was examined in nonretarded and Down''s syndrome children operating at 2 stages of sensorimotor intelligence. More advanced types of performative behavior were generally associated with a higher sensorimotor stage. Relative to the nonretarded children of the same sensorimotor stages, the Down''s syndrome children relied more heavily on gestures in their imperative and declarative usage. Apparently the correspondence between sensorimotor stage and performative behavior is closer at younger ages than at older ages.