Session 17
Behaviour
Risks of behaviour difficulties and approaches to intervention
Panel: Kathleen Feeley, Gerald Mahoney, Gillian Bird, Ben Sacks
Several characteristics associated with the Down syndrome behavioural phenotype as well as
biological factors are likely to increase the presence of challenging behaviour in individuals
with Down syndrome. The application of evidenced based strategies assessing and addressing
challenging behaviours in individuals with developmental disabilities can be systematically
applied to address such behaviours in individuals with Down syndrome. Additionally, evidence
based strategies can be systematically implemented by caregivers of very young children with
Down syndrome to address early communication skills (requesting, vocal imitation), escape
behaviours, and self stimulatory behaviour thus diminishing early developing behaviours likely to
lead to more significant challenges as the child with Down syndrome matures.
Discussion
Chair: Monica Cuskelly