Parental Involvement And Early Speech-Language Intervention as Determinants Of Vocabulary Development of Children with Down Syndrome In Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is associated with delays in physical, cognitive, and speech development. Parental involvement plays a crucial role in enhancing vocabulary development in children with Down syndrome through consistent communication, turn-taking, and meaningful interactions. Additionally, the timing between diagnosis and the commencement of intervention is a key factor in language acquisition for children with special needs. This study examined the influence of parental involvement and early intervention on the vocabulary development of children with Down syndrome in Ibadan, Oyo State. A purposive sampling method was used to select 30 parents of children with Down syndrome. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire (α = 0.70), and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression Analysis were employed for analysis. Findings revealed a significant relationship between parental involvement (r = 0.827, p < .05) and early speech-language intervention (r = 0.954, p < .05) with vocabulary development in children with Down syndrome. Furthermore, both parental involvement and early intervention significantly contributed to vocabulary development (r = 0.966, p < .05). The study concludes that parental involvement and early intervention are critical in fostering vocabulary development in children with Down syndrome. Therefore, it is recommended that parents actively participate in their child's language development from an early stage and seek early intervention as soon as a diagnosis is made.

Lawal, Ahmed Olaitan, Bolarinwa Blessing Ifeoluwa, and Williams, Ifeoluwa Nancy. Parental Involvement And Early Speech-Language Intervention as Determinants Of Vocabulary Development of Children with Down Syndrome In Ibadan, Oyo State. Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies, 22(2), 87-96.