MENTAL-DEVELOPMENT OF ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Abstract

Measures of cognitive, verbal and functional performance obtained at widely separated time periods were examined for adults with Downs syndrome. Comparisons of first and last test profiles for Raven Colored Progressive Matrices, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and Adaptive Functioning Index (Social Education) Test all demonstrated significant increases over a mean time span of 5 yr. These increases could not be attributed to year of entry into program, history of institutionalization or age of the individuals. Mental development of adults with Downs syndrome continues well into the 3rd and 4th decade of life.