KESULITAN MEMBACA PADA ANAK DOWN SYNDROME: STUDI KASUS DI LEMBAGA PSIKOLOGI

Down Syndrome; Kesulitan Membaca; Pengenalan Huruf; Studi Kasus

Abstrak

Reading is a fundamental skill for academic success, yet children with Down Syndrome often face significant barriers in this process. This qualitative single-case study aims to describe the reading difficulties of a 5-year-old child with Down Syndrome at a psychology institute in Batam, covering letter recognition, word recognition, and reading fluency. Data were collected through structured observations, simple reading tests, and interviews with therapists. Results indicate that the subject consistently struggles to identify similar letters, tends to guess words based on the initial letter, and exhibits a slow reading tempo with a tendency to lose focus. These obstacles are influenced by limitations in verbal working memory, phonological processing, and a history of delayed language development. Structured, repetitive interventions and the use of engaging visual media are essential to optimize the child's reading potential.