Stigmatic Effect of the Voice in Down's Syndrome.

Photographs of children with Down's syndrome were presented under two conditions to two groups of judges. In condition one, the photographs were paired with voice samples of the child pictured. In condition two the same photographs were paired with voice samples of non-retarded children. The judges then rated each child on d 12 item semantic differential. The Down's syndrome children were rated significantly higher (more positively) when their photographs were paired with voice samples of non-retarded children. The greatest differences were on ratings of confidence and capability.