Early Childhood Educators’ Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Büşra Vural Şenel; Fethiye Kılıçaslan

doi:10.5281/zenodo.18103590

Authors

Büşra Vural Şenel Harran Üniversitesi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8541-4867
Fethiye Kılıçaslan Harran University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8131-8859

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18103590

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorders, Childhood autism, Early Childhood, Preschool, Kindergarten

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the level of knowledge among early childhood educators about autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Specifically, the study aims to explore how educators respond to ASD-related knowledge questions and to determine whether their levels of knowledge differ across various demographic and professional variables.

Material and Methods: This descriptive survey study was conducted in the Southeastern region of Türkiye, Şanlıurfa. The study participants were 104 early childhood educators who took an active role in the kindergartens. It was collected using the "Sociodemographic Information Form" and the "Childhood Autism Knowledge Questionnaire: CAKQ". The data analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0.

Results: The points averages of the early childhood educators attending the study were 19,99 ± 5,77 on the CAKQ. The study found that early childhood educators' overall knowledge of ASD was moderate, with strong understanding of diagnostic timing and observable behaviors but notable gaps in social communication and interaction. Educators who had received formal ASD training or perceived their knowledge as sufficient scored significantly higher. No significant differences were found in demographic factors or in personal experience with autism.

Discussion and Conclusion: There has been a statistically significant relationship between receiving autism training, perceived sufficient knowledge, and knowledge levels about childhood autism (p<0.05). According to our study, early childhood educators who did not receive any training need to participate in in-service training programs to enhance their knowledge and competence regarding ASD.

Author Biography

Fethiye Kılıçaslan, Harran University

Fethiye Kılıçaslan, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Türkiye, fethiyeklcaslan@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0002-8131-8859

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