EjSBS - The European Journal of Social & Behavioural Sciences

The European Journal of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Online ISSN: 2301-2218
European Publisher

Application of Chaining Therapy for Improving Fine Motoric Skills As Self Being Basic Skills in Children with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Background Every parent want perfection is created for their children. However, if perfection is not obtained, then the only way is to maximize the potential of the child for functioned optimally and can live independently. Aims This study aims to determine the effectiveness of chaining therapy in maximizing fine motor skills that the basis for self-being skills in children with Down syndrome, children are expected can practice maximally motor skills so they can perform many activities of daily life independently. Method The research was conducted by applying the behavior approach chaining therapy in children with Down syndrome to improve their fine motor skills. The subjects in this research 2 people who attend schools for children with special needs in Surabaya. Method of assessment are interview, observation and psychological tests while chaining therapy using chaining technique. Results & Conclusion The chaining technique is effective enough to improve in fine motor skills in children with Down syndrome. In this technique behavior break down the behavior into smaller components and given to the children one by one in a systematic, until children mastered a whole set of behaviors that become intervention target. This makes it easy children with cognitive and physical limitations that occur in children with Down syndrome in order to receive information and training new the behavior gradually. Improvement that appears in the behavior the target activities are the subject doing activities in fine motor skills that more directed, not only do the activity without purpose. Moreover, with this technique becomes more settling the behavior, because each small component the behavior is repeated until the subject doing activities completely mastered before mastered a whole set of behaviors to intervention target. Several factors influence the effectiveness of the application of this therapy in subjects with Down syndrome, i.e. age factor (children's readiness for receive stimulation), cognitive ability, motivation, and support the environment.

Keywords: Chaining therapy, down syndrome

Introduction

Based on the data obtained, today more and more abnormal children born in Indonesia, however they also have the opportunity to develop their potential maximally. They did not choose for be them become abnormal as it is now, therefore it is the duty of everyone to help children that have special needs such as Down syndrome child to optimize capabilities. One of the assistances given is direct interventions for improve in fine motor skills with chaining technique. Although Down syndrome children have a deficiency in academic terms, but they can master vocational skills that can help them later. Therefore, children motor skills children need to be considered and developed maximally, so eventually they were able to be independent and not depend on others.

Problem statement

The difficulty to form behavior in child with down syndrome.

Research Questions:

How to form new behavior using chaining therapy in child with down syndrome?

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is for apply the chaining chaining therapy for improve in fine motor skills that eventually followed by an increase in the capacity and skills being self in children with down-syndrome.

Research Methods

Clinical interview is the most commonly used assessment in children and the parents (Sattler, 1998 as cited in Mash & Wolfe, 1999). Interviews were conducted in the mother and significant other to dig up information on the subject at home and doing interviews on teacher and school psychologist associated with the behavior of the subjects in school. In addition, the observation made by observing the object or the subject concerned or in a particular environment and behavior. Observations made on the physical appearance of the child, according to the physical characteristics that arise in children with Down syndrome are related to the five aspects of the child's fine motor skills, that is stability, bilateral coordination, sensation, dexterity (skilled) and the ability of self coached. Observations made since the first meeting until the implementation of the intervention. Psychological tests are also given, in the form of a series of tests that have been standardized for the purpose of assessment of a person to reveal some aspects, such as cognitive ability, skills or capabilities and aspects of personality (Mash & Wolfe, 1999).

One of the instruments use for development assessment in Down syndrome children are Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) developed by Dr. Edgar A. Doll in Vineland, New Jersey. The main goal in designing this scale for measure social maturity, which can help provide a diagnosis of mental retardation (Payne & Patton, 1981). Scale use VSMS aims to understand the condition of the subjects before and after the intervention associated with the ability of self-adaptive or coaching ability as one of the subjects and tool for evaluating effectiveness of intervention. One of the cognitive assessment instruments in the Down syndrome children use the scale Stanford - Binet in order to know intelligence capacity that owned by the subject to get an IQ score and also Mental Age (MA). MA is the measurement of outcomes the child mental achievement in year term (Mash and Wolfe, 1999). Additionally, in the assessment of motor, that is Visual Motor Integration Test or VMI tests.

With this test, expected to know child's abilities visual motoric integration that includes visual perception and coordination of motor movements. Intended use of the test as a screening tool VMI prior to the intervention and measurement as an evaluation after the intervention associated with the change of the fine motor skills in the subject. The subjects in this study were 2 children, i.e. children with characteristics according to Down syndrome patients aged 8 and 10 years. Research sites in inclusive schools in Surabaya, researchers act as a substitute teacher in school and conduct home visit. Implementation of interventions for about 12 days, every day. Interventions performed 30 minutes before the lesson, and continued 30 minutes after class. For the first subject, conducted from 07.00 until 09.00 and from 10.00 second subject until 12:00.

Design Intervention

Interventions performed on subjects with fine motor skills using Behavioristic approach, chaining technique. With this technique, the target behavior to be achieved behaviors split into simpler and chain to generate more complex behavior is the target behavior. This is due to the limitations of in cognitive and comprehension in Down syndrome children makes them impossible to receive all the information at once. Limitations on the physical aspects of the child also affects the motor skills that make the child unable to perform complex motor activity at once. Researcher intervening with Forward chaining technique. Interventions performed in the first step of all series of behavior, continue to the next step until the whole series ends.

Physical and mental condition of Down syndrome children are very influential in its development, particularly in developing fine motor skills. There are 5 aspects of fine motor development in Down syndrome child who will be trained, i.e. stability, where they generally show an inability to maintain muscle in certain circumstances. The second aspect is the Bilateral Coordination hampered, because the stability and balance of the body of a poor child and his immaturity in its development as a whole. The third aspect is the sensation, because it develops the ability to be able to distinguish sensory well, very important for children to learn to move his hands and fingers accurately. So, it takes a lot of stimulation in their sensory receptors. Fourth aspect is Dexterity. Barriers in this aspect is their difficulty to move muscles and a different finger conditions with a normal child can make them lose stability and arms control. The last aspect is the ability to self coached. The obstacles are physical conditions that inhibit their activity is more complex subtle motoric in school activities and at home (see table 1).

Intervention by chaining technique

Table 1 - Fine motor intervention on children with down syndrome
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The intervention is done twice times before and after the lesson as long as 30 minutes. It consists of 2-3 different activities, depends on its difficulty, start from the beginning until the end systematically. The exercise needs about 20 sessions which different activities to increase soft skill.

Intervention Evaluation Design

. Evaluation does in each session and per activity, right after the program by observing the failed dan success in each activity. Clients have to reach behavior target as a try out and being observed, then compile the results to compare client 1 and client 2.

. Client behavior is observed before and after the intervention, which depend on 5 aspects of soft skill especially stability, billateral coordination, censation, dexterity, self help management for daily activities.

Table 2 - Holistic design of evaluation
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This evaluation is done by observation qualitatively.

Findings

According to VSMS results before and after the intervention, it shows improvement in few aspects. In first client, showed improvement in motoric, self-help, and social skill. And the second client, showed improvement in self-help, social skill and communication. It is consistent with the goal of the intervention.

According to VMI results, there are no changes between those clients. It’s because of the design of the intervention not correlate with the paper and pencil activities. The intervention was designed focused on soft skill ability and followed by self-help ability.

Each client has reasons to develop skill, such as age. Age shows readiness in every condition, it correlate with condition of neuron, cognitive ability and motoric control that make them could accept any stimulation. To know the readiness, need trial while giving stimulation (Bruni, 2006). If the first trial failed, do not stop, and keep doing the exercise to client patiently. Other factors that contribute the effectivity of intervention are motivation and environment support.

From those interventions, behavioristic approach could improve soft skill in down syndrome. By using it, behavior target arranged systematically and divided into smaller components.

According to the intervention design, each client could improve the behavior target. According to the implementation, every client has two opportunities to repeat each behavior component. If they can do correctly, then could continue with the next behavior target on schedule. But, if they cannot do correctly, then the exercise will do until they reach the intervention target in each behavior component.

Conclusions

Using chaining technique of behavioristic approach can increase soft skill in child with down syndrome. It’s because the technique simplified the limitation of those children to accept information and exercise gradually. Moreover, the technique makes the behavior more settle, because each small behavior component being repeated until they hold every aspect of intervention target for each behavior component.

By mastering the principal of soft skill developmental, child becomes easier to do difficult activities correlated with self-help skill.

Many factors that influenced the effectivity of this technique in child with down syndrome, such as age, cognitive ability, motivation and environment support.

Suggestion

Chaining technique can be applied in the school and the curriculum represents it. If want to apply it at home, parents can follow the program that have been arranged for children, so that avoid the regression behavior.

Acknowledgements

The author(s) declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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About this article

Published online: 30.04.2014
Pages: 191-199
Publisher: Cognitive-crcs
In: Volume 9, Issue 2
DOI: 10.15405/ejsbs.124
Online ISSN: 2301-2218
Article Type: Original Research
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