Desarrollo de habilidades comunicativas y su influencia en la familia con un hijo con síndrome de Down

Abstract

Raising a person with Down syndrome implies a greater commitment in the development of communication skills in the family, in order to promote an adequate integration and social development since childhood. For this study, carried out from the educational methodology of systematization of experiences, qualitative research was conducted, according to a longitudinal action-research design, on communication skills in families with children with Down syndrome. The initial sample consisted of 8 mothers of children diagnosed with this genetic condition, who are attending General Basic Education and General Unified High School at the Specialized Educational Unit El Oro Unidad Educativa Especializada El Oro. The data collection methods used consisted of the application of psychometric scales, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire STAI, focused on the measurement and characterization of the participants' anxiety, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Test reduced version FACES II-20-VER, used in the identification of the type of family dynamics to determine its functionality; In addition, in contrast to this, qualitative methods of data collection were used, such as observation and semi-structured interview, used in order to know the subjectivity of the results provided by the sample selected in the study. The results obtained from the application of these data collection elements showed that the participating mothers presented a significant level of anxiety, and semi-functional and dysfunctional family dynamics. The objective to be achieved was to apply a therapeutic intervention for the development of communication skills in families of children with Down syndrome, for which Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT was chosen as a clinical method, due to its capacity to generate or promote a conscious acceptance of the reality of an individual or group, in order to generate satisfactory changes in their behavior and quality of life, this intervention was confirmed by 8 psychotherapeutic sessions, developed for a period of 1 hour per session.