Patterns of temperament variation in three groups of developmentally delayed preschool children: mother and father ratings.

Patterns of temperament variation in the developmentally delayed preschool population have not been adequately studied. The present paper reports temperament data for children 2 to 4 1/2 years old: 32 with Down's syndrome, 29 with neurological problems, and 35 with delays of unknown etiologies, as reported by their mothers and fathers. Results indicate that children in the total delayed sample are more approaching, less intense, less persistent, and have higher thresholds for stimulation than those in the normative sample. There were differences among the three groups in activity level, approach/withdrawal, and distractibility. Furthermore, on these three dimensions, mothers scored their children as more difficult than did fathers. These data highlight the need for adequate norms for subgroups of delayed children, and suggest that inclusion of temperament assessment can be a useful part of the clinical care of delayed children and their parents.