Evaluation of a Modified Corsi Task to Assess Visuospatial Short-Term Memory in Young Children With Down Syndrome.
Miranda E Pinks, Kaylyn Van Deusen, Mark A Prince and 7 others
PMID 40288775WHAT IT FOUND
A modified memory task using large, colorful buttons works well for children with Down syndrome aged 5 to 8, but many younger children cannot complete it.
It shows good stability over two weeks and tracks with age, making it a useful research tool for this older group.
Key findings
01Task feasibility was 74.5% for the whole sample but rose to 84.7% for children aged 5 to 8 years.
02Test-retest reliability over two weeks was moderate (ICC 0.62), and there were no significant practice effects between visits.
03Scores increased with age and mental age, with a one-year difference in chronological age associated with an 83% higher score.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study missed its own pre-set target for feasibility in the whole sample. Many children under 5 could not complete the task or scored zero, limiting its use for younger ages. The sample was mostly White and non-Hispanic, so results may not apply to all children with Down syndrome. Reliability was only moderate (ICC 0.62) and tested in a small group of 29 children. The study was mostly cross-sectional, so it shows differences between ages but does not track individual change over time.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use this task to assess memory in children with Down syndrome under age 5, as more than half could not complete it and those who did often scored zero. The moderate reliability and small sample for retesting also mean it should not be used for high-stakes individual clinical decisions yet.