Perceptions of parents and teachers on the oral communication skills of children with mild mental retardation

• Main Author: Hung, Hao-Chih (Scott)
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2001
• Subjects: Mentally handicapped > Means of communication; Handicapped children; Mental retardation; Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2539
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study describes the perceptions of parents and teachers on the oral communication skills of children with mild mental retardation (MMR). Specifically, it looks into the profile of the parents and teachers of P. Burgos Elementary School, P. Gomez Elementary School, and Sta. Ana Elementary School in terms of age, civil status, highest educational attainment, occupation, monthly income, and profile of children with MMR. It also describes their perceptions relative to the childrens' auditory discrimination and speaking abilities. This study also determines if there is a significant difference between parents' and teachers' perceptions on the oral communication skills of children with MMR.The researcher employed the descriptive method utilizing the questionnaire which consisted of two parts namely: Part I-Personal Profile and Part II-Perceptions of Respondents on the Oral Communication Skills of Children with Mild Mental Retardation.The respondents were 200 parents of children with MMR and 34 special education teachers of three public elementary schools with Special Education (SPED) centers, namely: P. Burgos, P. Gomez, and Sta. Ana Elementary Schools. The findings revealed that majority of the parents are married, college graduates, have occupation but are receiving salaries below the poverty line, had 3 to 4 children, and had one special child in the family. They likewise had the extended family. Majority of the teachers are married, have specialization in special education, and had teaching experiences with children with mild mental retardation. Both teachers and parents perceive the children with mild mental retardation as capable of auditory discrimination and of improving their speaking skills.Based on the aforecited findings and conclusions of the study, the researcher recommends that the results of this study be considered in improving training programs for teachers in developing/enhancing the oral communication skills of children with mild mental retardation, as well as in designing parent education and parent involvement programs.