Preschool Teachers' Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Hafsah Sakinah  Binti Yahya; Suziyani  Mohamed

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be identified among preschool children who have certain characteristics and preschool teachers play a crucial role in identifying the characteristics of students with learning disabilities such as ASD. This study is carried out to achieve the objective of assessing the level of knowledge among preschool teachers regarding ASD. A quantitative approach was employed and involved a study sample of 153 preschool teachers in Hulu Langat district, Selangor. The sampling technique is simple random sampling. Data was collected through online surveys using Google Forms and offline surveys in printed form and was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) system. The research findings revealed that the level of knowledge among preschool teachers regarding ASD is relatively low. Issues may arise if preschool teachers lack sufficient knowledge about ASD, potentially hindering early ASD detection, classroom effectiveness, as well as diminishing confidence and preparedness in managing the behaviors of children with ASD. The implications of these research results recommend that organizational management should implement periodic training programs and workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of preschool teachers about ASD. In conclusion, preschool teachers should improve their knowledge about ASD in order to be more confident in educating and guiding ASD children, and this will lead to an improvement in the quality of ASD children’s lives.

Abdullah, S. A. K. (2020). Keperluan Kemahiran Intervensi Awal bagi Murid Berkeperluan Khas. Unpublished Manuscript.
Alahmadi, N. A., & El Keshky, M. E. S. (2019). Assessing primary school teachers’s knowledge of specific learning disabilities in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 9(1), 9-22.
Alharbi, K. A., Alharbi, A. A., Al-Thunayyan, F. S., Alsuhaibani, K. A., Alsalameh, N. S., Alhomaid, M. H., Albahouth, I. S., & Hamid, P. F. (2019). School’s Teachers Knowledge About Autism in Al-Badayacity, Al-Qassim Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materia socio-medica, 31(1), 4.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Bernama. (2022). Govt intends to set up more PPDK for high-functioning autism - Rina Bernama. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/govt-intends-set-more-ppdk-highfunctioning-autism-rina-380388
Bolourian, Y., Losh, A., Hamsho, N., Eisenhower, A., & Blacher, J. (2022). General Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Autism, Inclusive Practices, and Relationship Building Strategies. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(9), 3977–3990.
Bujang, N. A., Jima’ain, M. T., & Saari, Z. (2020). Penerapan Konsep IKHLAS dalam menyantuni anak istimewa (autisme)(Implementation of IKHLAS Concept in treating special needs). UMRAN-International Journal of Islamic and Civilizational Studies, 6(3-2).
Fuad, Y. A., & Tahar, M. M. (2021). Tahap pengetahuan dan sikap guru aliran perdana dalam mengenal pasti murid bermasalah pembelajaran. (Knowledge and Attitude levels of Mainstream Teachers in Identifying Students with Learning Disabilities) Jurnal Dunia Pendidikan, 3(1), 696-706.
Gómez-Marí, I., Sanz-Cervera, P., & Tárraga-Mínguez, R. (2021). Teachers’ knowledge regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A systematic review. Sustainability, 13(9), 5097.
Güleç-Aslan, Y. (2020). Experiences of Turkish preschool teachers for including children with autism spectrum disorders: Challenges faced and methods used. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 7(2), 37-49.
Idris, N. (2013). Penyelidikan dalam pendidikan. McGraw-Hill Education.
Jelas, Z. M., Ali, M. M., Salleh, N. M., & Ahmad, N. A. (Eds.). (2012). Pengajaran untuk Kanak-kanak Kurang Upaya dalam Persekitaran Inklusif. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Khalil, A. I., Salman, A., Helabi, R., & Khalid, M. (2020). Teachers’ knowledge and opinions toward integrating children with autism spectrum disorder in mainstream primary school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(6), 282–293.
Kuzminski, R., Netto, J., Wilson, J., Falkmer, T., Chamberlain, A., & Falkmer, M. (2019). Linking knowledge and attitudes: Determining neurotypical knowledge about and attitudes towards autism. PloS one, 14(7), 1–15.
Maenner, M. J., Warren, Z., Williams, A. R., Amoakohene, E., Bakian, A. V., Bilder, D. A., ... & Shaw, K. A. (2023). Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2020. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 72(2), 1.
Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2014). Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS).
Rahman, M. J. A., & Alias, A. (2021). Kesedaran Guru Pendidikan Khas Terhadap Latihan Berkaitan Autisme. Jurnal Dunia Pendidikan, 3(2), 113-118.
Rai, M. S., Bhattarai, J., & Chaudhary, M. S. (2018). Knowledge regarding autism among primary school teachers of Birgunj, Parsa. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, 8(11), 154-160.
Rinku, M., Maslp, J., & Shetty, R. (2022). Knowledge and Attitude Towards Autism Among Preschool Teachers In Kerala. 10(11), 129–138.
Samsuddin, S. J., Susheel, J. S., & Razak, R. A. Pengetahuan dan amalan guru prasekolah dalam mengendalikan murid dengan kecelaruan komunikasi. International Journal for Studies on Children, Women, Elderly and Disabled, Vol. 13, (Oct) ISSN 0128-309X, 13, 55–62.
Scheuermann, B., Webber, J., & Lang, R. (2019). Autism: Teaching Makes Difference (2nd ed.). Cengage.
Skoufou, A. (2019). Social Interaction of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)-Characteristics and Educational Approaches. Online Submission, 6(6), 28-36.
Taresh, S., Ahmad, N. A., Roslan, S., Ma’rof, A. M., & Zaid, S. (2020). Pre-School Teachers’ Knowledge, Belief, Identification Skills, and Self-Efficacy in Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Conceptual Framework to Identify Children with ASD. Brain sciences, 10(3), 165.
Zainun, Z., Masnan, A. H., Bakri, A. Z. A., Aspani, S. A., Hassan, N. A., & Zawawi, Z. (2019). Pengetahuan, sikap dan persepsi masyarakat tentang kanak-kanak Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Knowledge, Attitude and Social Perception of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Children. Southeast Asia Early Childhood Journal, 8(1), 19-29.
Zuhdi, N. K. A., & Rosli, R. (2018). Pembelajaran matematik di kalangan kanak-kanak autisme: Satu sorotan literatur sistematik. In Prosiding Seminar Antarabangsa Isu-isu Pendidikan (Vol. 5).

(Yahya & Mohamed, 2024)
Yahya, H. S. B., & Mohamed, S. (2024). Preschool Teachers’ Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 13(1), 1784–1797.

Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seenavc at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development

Open Access Journal

Preschool Teachers' Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Hafsah Sakinah Binti Yahya, Suziyani Mohamed

Further Information

Our Journals

Get intouch with us