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Behavioral Sciences
Volume 16
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10.3390/bs16010039
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Characterizing Autism Traits in Toddlers with Down Syndrome: Preliminary Associations with Language, Executive Functioning, and Other Developmental Domains

by
Tiffany Chavers Edgar
1,*,
Claudia Schabes
2,
Marianne Elmquist
1,
Miriam Kornelis
3,
Lizbeth Finestack
3 and
Audra Sterling
1,2
1
Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
2
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
3
Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010039
Submission received: 5 November 2025 / Revised: 12 December 2025 / Accepted: 18 December 2025 / Published: 24 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationships Between Autistic Traits and Other Psychological Characteristics)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Children with Down syndrome (DS) show considerable variability in social-communication and cognitive profiles, and a subset meet criteria for co-occurring autism. In the present study, we examined the associations between developmental domains and autistic trait severity in toddlers with DS. Participants included 38 toddlers (M = 4.19 years, SD = 0.99) who completed a home-based assessment, including measures of language, fine motor, and visual reception skills. Caregivers also completed standardized questionnaires on communication and executive functioning. Multiple regression analyses tested the degree of association between these developmental domains and autistic traits. Fewer words produced fewer gestures, and more impaired fine motor and visual reception scores were significantly associated with higher autism trait severity, whereas executive function domains were not significantly associated. Preliminary findings indicate that variability in language and nonverbal developmental skills contributes to the expression of autism traits in DS, underscoring the need for early, multidomain assessment approaches to support accurate identification and tailored intervention.
Keywords: Down syndrome; autism; measurement; diagnostics Down syndrome; autism; measurement; diagnostics

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MDPI and ACS Style

Edgar, T.C.; Schabes, C.; Elmquist, M.; Kornelis, M.; Finestack, L.; Sterling, A. Characterizing Autism Traits in Toddlers with Down Syndrome: Preliminary Associations with Language, Executive Functioning, and Other Developmental Domains. Behav. Sci. 2026, 16, 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010039

AMA Style

Edgar TC, Schabes C, Elmquist M, Kornelis M, Finestack L, Sterling A. Characterizing Autism Traits in Toddlers with Down Syndrome: Preliminary Associations with Language, Executive Functioning, and Other Developmental Domains. Behavioral Sciences. 2026; 16(1):39. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010039

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edgar, Tiffany Chavers, Claudia Schabes, Marianne Elmquist, Miriam Kornelis, Lizbeth Finestack, and Audra Sterling. 2026. "Characterizing Autism Traits in Toddlers with Down Syndrome: Preliminary Associations with Language, Executive Functioning, and Other Developmental Domains" Behavioral Sciences 16, no. 1: 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010039

APA Style

Edgar, T. C., Schabes, C., Elmquist, M., Kornelis, M., Finestack, L., & Sterling, A. (2026). Characterizing Autism Traits in Toddlers with Down Syndrome: Preliminary Associations with Language, Executive Functioning, and Other Developmental Domains. Behavioral Sciences, 16(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010039

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