Kemampuan Bahasa Reseptif dan Ekspresif Anak dengan Indikasi Autisme

Abstract

Speech and language skills are crucial aspects of a child's academic and social development, particularly for children showing signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who often face communication challenges. This study aims to describe a child's profile of abilities, challenges, and needs regarding speech and language, based on developmental assessment results. A qualitative descriptive method with a naturalistic design was employed. The subject was an 11-year-old fifth-grade student showing signs of autism. Data collection involved observation, interviews, speech and language developmental assessments, and documentation. The findings indicate that the child is able to understand simple instructions and basic concepts, as well as express needs using simple sentences. However, the child still struggles with understanding complex instructions, maintaining two-way conversations, and managing pragmatic communication aspects such as eye contact and social interaction. Support strategies—including the use of simple language, visual aids, and expansion techniques—helped improve the child's communication skills. The study concludes that speech and language developmental assessments provide a comprehensive picture of a child's communication abilities, challenges, and needs, serving as a foundation for providing support tailored to their developmental requirements.