What is this project about?

Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of learning disability. One of the biggest challenges for individuals with Down syndrome is language, a well-known predictor of psychosocial and academic outcomes. Evidence suggests that shared reading could be an effective vehicle by which parents can support their child’s early language and communication.

Aims of the project

• Analyse the characteristics of shared book reading interactions between young pre-school children with Down syndrome and their parents and compare these with typically developing population.
• Co-create with parents an interactive shared book reading intervention and training package for 2-4 year old children with Down syndrome.
• Conduct a small-scale case series to test the acceptability and potential of the intervention and training package for enhancing child language and communication.

Who is involved?

This ESRC-funded project started in September 2022 and is a collaboration between Mirjana Jeremic, Emma Pagnamenta, Vesna Stojanovik (University of Reading), Kelly Burgoyne (University of Manchester), Sue Buckley and Down Syndrome Education International, an international charity based in the UK that supports scientific research and delivers evidence-based advice and information to improve outcomes for children with Down syndrome worldwide.

Lead contact

Mirjana Jeremic at m.jeremic@pgr.reading.ac.uk.