Early Identification and Intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Young Children

Abstract

The present study focused on the paramount importance of early identification and intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among young children. The focus of the study is on children with autism and their typical characters which are identified by adults. The study investigates the occurrence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among young children from the parents’ perspective. This descriptive and analytical study aimed at finding 1) parents’ perception of the need of early identification and intervention of children with autism, 2) parents’ own perception of the challenges and strategies to help students with autism increase their school performance and 3) parents’ view on strategies to help change the societal perception on ASD. There were three research questions to investigate the parents’ perception in the current study; 1) the issue pertaining to the need of early identification of children with autism, 2) the questions related to useful of identification to parents, school teachers and society, 3) the questions on the challenges and strategies parents had to help ASD children receive optimal care by adults. It was found that parents identified their children behavior as ASD, regardless its degree of severity. The behaviors such as 1) emotionally unstable with bad tempered, 2) easy to be frustrated, 3) having ritual behavior, 4) quick walking habit, 5) problem with understanding, 6) reserved personality and lonely were identified with the help of the teachers in school. Strategies to help children with autism are also discussed in this paper.

Abstrak

Fokus kajian ini adalah kepada kepentingan yang sangat utama dalam pengenalpastian dan  intervensi awal bagi Gangguan Spektrum Autistik (ASD) dalam kalangan kanak-kanak. Ia tertumpu kepada kanak-kanak autisme dan ciri-ciri lazim yang dikenalpasti oleh orang dewasa. Ia menyelidik kejadian ASD dalam kalangan kanak-kanak dari perspektif ibu bapa.  Kajian deskriptif dan analitis ini bertujuan untuk mendalami 1) persepsi ibu bapa akan keperluan pengenalpastian dan intervensi awal bagi kanak-kanak autisme, 2) persepsi ibu bapa terhadap cabaran dan strategi bagi membantu pelajar autisme meningkatkan pencapaian di sekolah, dan 3) pandangan ibu bapa tentang strategi bagi membantu mengubah persepsi masyarakat tentang ASD. Terdapat tiga soalan penyelidikan bagi mengkaji persepsi ibu bapa dalam kajian ini: 1) isu berkenaan keperluan pengenalpastian awal kanak-kanak autisme, 2) soalan-soalan berhubung dengan faedah pengenalpastian bagi ibu bapa, guru dan masyarakat, 3) soalan-soalan tentang cabaran dan strategi ibu bapa bagi membantu kanak-kanak ASD menerima perhatian optimal daripada orang dewasa.  Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa ibu bapa mengenalpasti tingkahlaku anak mereka sebagai ASD, tanpa mengambilkira keseriusannya.  Tingkahlaku seperti 1) tidak stabil emosi dan bengkeng, 2) mudah kecewa, 3) kelakuan ritual, 4) tabiat berjalan dengan laju, 5) bermasalah dalam memahami, 6) personaliti yang pendiam dan sepi, dikenalpasti dengan bantuan guru.  Strategi bagi membantu kanak-kanak autisme juga dibincangkan dalam kertas ini.