Projects

Our research explores how children with Down syndrome develop and learn, and identifies more effective teaching approaches and therapies. We have a unique focus and a successful track record spanning over 45 years.

Studies supported by DSE have delivered important insights into speech and language, memory, reading, number and mathematics, social skills, education, sleep and behaviour for children with Down syndrome. Our research has repeatedly demonstrated the potential of children with Down syndrome to learn more when given the opportunity and appropriate support.

Photograph of a child with Down syndrome learning early vocabulary by selecting pictures.

Current projects

Past projects

Recent and selected research publications

  • Burgoyne, K., Buckley, S.J. & R. Baxter. R. (2021) Speech production accuracy in children with Down syndrome: relationships with hearing, language, and reading ability and change in speech production accuracy over time. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 65, 1021-1032. doi.org/10.1111/jir.12890
  • de Graaf, G., Buckley F., Skotko B.G. (2021) Estimation of the number of people with Down syndrome in Europe. European Journal of Human Genetics 29, 402-410. doi.org/10.1038/s41431-020-00748-y
  • Mason-Apps, E. , Stojanovik, V. , Houston-Price, C. , Seager, E. , Buckley, S. (2020) Do infants with Down syndrome show an early receptive language advantage? Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research , 63 (2). pp. 585-598. doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-19-00157
  • Mason-Apps, E. , Stojanovik, V. , Houston-Price, C. , Buckley, S. (2018) Longitudinal predictors of early language in infants with Down syndrome: a preliminary study. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 81 pp. 37-51. doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017.12.021
  • de Graaf, G., Buckley, F., Dever, J., Skotko, B.G. (2017). Estimation of live birth and population prevalence of Down syndrome in nine U.S. states. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, Early view. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.38402
  • de Graaf, G., Buckley F., Skotko B.G. (2017). Estimation of the number of people with Down syndrome in the United States. Genetics in Medicine, 19(4), 437-447. https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2016.127
  • de Graaf, G., Buckley, F., Skotko, B.G. (2016). Live births, natural losses, and elective terminations with Down syndrome in Massachusetts. Genetics in Medicine, 18, 459-466. https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2016.15
  • de Graaf, G., Buckley, F., Skotko, B.G. (2015). Estimates of the live births, natural losses and elective terminations with down syndrome in the United States. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, 167A, 756-767. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.37001
  • Mengoni, S. E., Nash, H. & Hulme, C. (2014). Learning to read new words in individuals with Down syndrome: Testing the role of phonological knowledge. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35, 1098-1109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.01.030
  • Burgoyne, K., Baxter, R. & Buckley, S. (2014). Supporting the literacy skills of children with Down syndrome. Chapter in R. Faragher and B. Clarke (Eds.), Educating Learners with Down Syndrome. pp 195-220. Oxford: Routledge Education.
  • Ashworth, A., Hill, C.M., Karmiloff-Smith, A.& Dimitriou, D. (2014) The Importance of Sleep: Attentional Problems in School-Aged Children with Down syndrome and Williams syndrome. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 12, 1-17. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2014.940107
  • Steele, A., Scerif, G., Cornish, K. & Karmiloff-Smith, A. (2013) Learning to read in Williams syndrome and Down syndrome: syndrome-specific precursors and developmental trajectories. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(7), 754-762. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12070
  • Mengoni, S. E., Nash, H. & Hulme, C. (2013). The benet of orthographic support for oral vocabulary learning in children with Down syndrome. Journal of Child Language, 40, pp 221-243 https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0305000912000396
  • Cornish, K.,A. Steele, A., Rondinelli Cobra Monteiro, C., Karmiloff-Smith, A. & Scerif, G. (2012) Attention deficits predict phenotypic outcomes in syndrome-specific and domain-specific ways. Frontiers in Psychology 3, 227. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00227
  • Burgoyne, K., Duff, F., Snowling, M., Buckley, S. & Hulme, C. (2013). Training phoneme blending skills in children with Down syndrome. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 29(3), 273-290. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265659012474674
  • Bennett S, Holmes J and Buckley S (2013). Computerized memory training leads to sustained improvement in visuospatial short term memory skills in children with Down syndrome. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 118(3), 179-192. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-118.3.179
  • Ashworth, A., Hill, C.M., Karmiloff-Smith, A.& Dimitriou, D. (2013) Cross syndrome comparison of sleep problems in children with Down syndrome and Williams syndrome Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 1572-1580. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/desc.12383
  • Steele, A., Karmiloff-Smith, A. Cornish, K. & Scerif, G. (2012) The Multiple Subfunctions of Attention: Differential Developmental Gateways to Literacy and Numeracy. Child Development, 83, 6, 2028-2041. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01809.x
  • Buckley, S. (2010) Health research, the needs of persons with Down syndrome and their families. In: R Urbano (Ed.) International Review of Research in Mental Retardation. Pp 295- 306. Academic Press.
  • Burgoyne, Duff, Clarke, Snowling, Buckley, Hulme (2012) Efficacy of a reading and language intervention for children with Down syndrome: an RCT. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53, 1044-1053. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02557.x
  • Buckley, S.J. (2008). The development of babies with Down syndrome. In S J Skallerup (Ed.) Babies with Down syndrome. (pp 169-198). 3rd Edition. Bethesda: Woodbine House.
  • Buckley, S. J. & Johnson-Glenberg, M.C. (2008) Increasing literacy learning in Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. In J. E. Roberts, R.S. Chapman & S.F. Warren (Eds.) Speech and Language Development and Intervention in Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome. (pp 233-254). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
  • Buckley, S., Bird, G., Sacks, B. & Archer, T. (2007). Mainstream or special education for teenagers with Down syndrome. In Jean-Adolphe Rondal & Alberto Rasore-Quartino (Eds.). Therapies and Rehabilitation in Down Syndrome. Chichester: Wiley.
  • Buckley, S. (2003). Literacy and Language. In Rondal, J. & Buckley, S. J. (Eds) Speech and Language Intervention in Down syndrome. (pp. 132-153). London: Whurr.
  • Buckley, S. & Bird, G. (2002). Cognitive development and education: Perspectives on Down syndrome from a twenty-year research programme. In M.Cuskelly, A. Jobling, & S. Buckley (Eds.), Down syndrome across the life span (pp. 66-80). London: Whurr.

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