Comparison of Mental Development in Individuals with Mosaic and Trisomy 21 Down's Syndrome

During the past 15 years about 350 children with Down's syndrome have been seen at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for psychological evaluation along with medical visits and other laboratory tests. Among this group there were 25 mosaic Down's syndrome children identified by chromosome analyses. They were matched for sex and chronological age with 25 trisomy 21 subjects and compared on psychological tests. The mosaic group demonstrated significantly higher intellectual potential, better verbal facility, and less visual perceptual difficulties than the trisomy 21 group. Their behavioral adjustment and personality characterisitcs were similar to those observed in other types of Down's syndrome. Since present psychological assessment techniques do not permit reaching valid conclusions about the ultimate intellectual status in very young infants with Down's syndrome, physicians and other professionals need to be careful when recommending early placement outside the home based merely upon the diagnosis.