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The foundations of mathematical development in Williams syndrome and Down syndrome
Author(s) -
Van Herwegen Jo,
Ranzato Erica,
KarmiloffSmith Annette,
Simms Victoria
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12730
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , number line , williams syndrome , domain (mathematical analysis) , cognitive psychology , cognition , mathematics , neuroscience , mathematics education , mathematical analysis
Abstract Background Studies in Down syndrome (DS) and Williams syndrome (WS) have suggested that mathematical abilities are impaired. However, it is unclear which domain‐general or domain‐specific abilities impact on mathematical development in these developmental disorders. Method The current study examined the foundations of mathematical development across participants with WS ( n = 24) and DS ( n = 26) compared to typically developing (TD) children ( n = 26) in relation to domain‐general (i.e., general intelligence and visuospatial abilities) and domain‐specific abilities (non‐symbolic and symbolic number abilities). Results Developmental trajectories showed that mathematical abilities were delayed in line with overall mental age in DS and WS. Whilst visuospatial abilities predicted performance for DS and TD participants, this was not the case for the WS group, instead Approximate Number Sense abilities predicted mathematical development. Conclusions These findings suggest that those with DS and WS may benefit from different mathematical intervention programmes.