INTRODUCTION: Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder commonly associated with low cognitive development, oral motor anomalies, and hearing issues, all of which contribute to language communication challenges. This study aimed to determine the levels of language communication abilities, including comprehension, production, and pragmatics, among children and adolescents with Down Syndrome attending three selected special schools in Kigali as perceived by parents.
METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study enrolled 40 participants from three special schools in Kigali. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and language abilities. Pearson’s Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests assessed associations between age groups and pragmatics, comprehension, production, and examined gender differences across defined age categories in children.
RESULTS: The results indicate that the majority of children and adolescents (n=16, 40%) were classified at Level 1 (Mild) for language comprehension. In terms of language production, most 14 (35%) children and adolescents were at Level 4 (Moderate-Severe). For language pragmatics, most 17 (42.5%) children and adolescents fell into Level 5 (Severe). Statistically significant differences were observed in language production between the 5–12 and 13–17 age groups (p= 0.05). Similarly, significant differences in language pragmatics were found between the 5–12 and 13–17 age groups (p=0.01).
CONCLUSION: This study highlights the varying levels of language communication abilities among children and adolescents with Down Syndrome. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance language skills in individuals with Down Syndrome, mainly the need for speech and language therapy, as supported by evidence, to be an effective management strategy.
