OBJECTIVES: to verify the influence that properties of objects have on the reaching and grasping adjustments made by infants with and without Down syndrome (DS) between four to eight months of age. METHODS: 16 infants, eight typical and eight with DS, were evaluated once a month from months 4 to 8. Four spherical objects (large soft, small soft, large hard and small hard) were offered and the first five valid movements were recorded for analysis of the variables: proximal adjustment (uni- and bimanual), distal adjustments (palm orientation, hand opening) and grasping of the object. RESULTS: the typical infants displayed greater bimanual adjustment for large objects at six and eight months and those with DS at seven months. As for distal adjustments, typical infants varied their behavior while DS showed predominant use of the oblique position. In general, the typical group had greater success in grasping all hard and small soft objects when compared to the infants with DS. CONCLUSIONS: infants with Down syndrome showed a smaller variety of adjustments, which led to lower success in grasping, possibly due to the intrinsic limitations of DS.
Motor skills; Infant; Down syndrome
