IMPLEMENTATION OF PHONETIC PLACEMENT METHOD ON ARTICULATION DISORDER OF DOWN SYNDROME CLIENT

Abstract

down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder that causes intellectual disability. Articulation disorder is one of the symptoms found in down syndrome. The condition is affected by macroglossia, muscle hypotonia, lack of control over lips and tongue and motor deficiency. The need for early intervention through speech therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy as well as medical attention for various health problems that occur. Method: using Single Subject Research, with one group pretest-posttest design. The participant was a female aged 8:5 years with articulation disorder on /p/ at the start of a word and had never received speech therapy. Data collection was done through interviews with the client's parents, direct observation of the client, tests, and document studies. Speech therapy was conducted for 10 sessions with an emphasis on bilabial phonetic placement exercises. Perceptual assessment by comparing the ability to produce /p/ at the start of a word before and after therapy. Results: in the post speech therapy assessment, there was an increase of 60%. Conclusion: Interventions given to clients to help articulation skills through the phonetic placement method. After the intervention was carried out for 10 sessions, a post test was carried out on the client and there were changes in the client's articulation ability in this case. Suggestion: further research is needed so that it can be a reference in handling articulation disorders in down syndrome conditions.