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AIM There is a lack of investigation into the functional developmental profile of children with Down syndrome. On the basis of current international health paradigms, the purpose of this study was to assess the developmental profile of these children.METHOD Sixty children (33 males, 27 females) with Down syndrome (age range 6-16y; mean age 9y 3mo, SD 28.8mo), who had received standard, holistic, early intervention, were assessed. Of these, 42 (70%) had congenital anomalies, 12 had severe congenital heart defects. Participants were assessed on measures of cognitive function (Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of VisualMotor Integration; Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale) and participation (Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales).RESULTS No difference was found on any measure on the basis of severity of congenital anomaly.Results showed improvements in age-related body function and correlations between specific body functions and participation. No decline in IQ was found with age, and significant correlations between IQ and all other measures were noted. Although sex differences were found in the body functions of short-term memory and motor function, no difference in measures of activity performance and participation was found.INTERPRETATION Our findings emphasize the need for paediatric Down syndrome intervention to encourage improved body functions while emphasizing the acquisition of functional skills that enable enhanced participation in age-appropriate activities.Down syndrome is the most common autosomal anomaly occurring in live births 1,2 and has been described as 'a syndrome-complex of genetic origin with protean neurobiological consequences, and several characteristic neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological manifestations'. 3 Resulting from trisomy of chromosome 21, 4 Down syndrome is the most common single cause of mild, moderate and severe learning disability,* 1,5,6 with between 70% and 75% of individuals with Down syndrome attaining an IQ of between 25 and 50 by the end of the first decade of life. 3,7 A wide variety of frequencies is reported, but most report a range of 1 in 650 to 1000 live births. [1][2][3]8 When compared with the general population, individuals with Down syndrome experience a reduced life expectancy, but within the Down syndrome population, life expectancy is increasing. 9 There is a statistically significant difference between the survival of males and females with Down syndrome, in favour of males. 10,11 Clinically, individuals with Down syndrome present with a wide range of physical and anatomical characteristics, congenital malformations and a tendency towards specific medical conditions. 4,6,12 Medical paradigms have undergone major changes in recent years, and international measures of health now reflect the importance of participation and function on the health of individuals, communities and society. The World Health Organization has adopted the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), a biopsychosocial model that no longer measures the rep...

There is a need, among practitioners and researchers, for a feasible, user-friendly assessment tool that evaluates overall participation and guides intervention. This paper describes the process of construction and development of the Participation in Childhood Occupations Questionnaire (PICO-Q) and the establishment of its primary psychometric properties. The 22-item instrument measures the level, enjoyment, and frequency of performance for children's participation in daily occupations in a variety of environments. The questionnaire was completed by the mothers of 41 children between the ages of 6 and 10 years (24 children with and 17 children without sensory modulation disorder). Cronbach's alpha varied from. 86 to. 89, indicating internal consistency of items. Test-retest reliability varied from. 69 to. 86, indicating that the instrument provides a stable measurement over time. The PICO-Q was found to differentiate between children with and without participation restrictions. The PICO-Q shows initial reliability and validity and has both research and clinical application potential.

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