Abstract:

Communication skills are important aspects of social competence necessary for better academic performance. This study investigated the influence of communication skills acquisition on academic performance of students with intellectual disabilities in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Four special education needs schools within Ilorin metropolis were purposively selected for this study. A total number of sixty (60) students identified with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. A ten item questionnaire was developed by the researchers to elicit responses from the students on their communication skills. An Academic Performance Tests (APT) designed by the researchers was also used to assess participants’ academic performance on both literacy and numeracy skills. The data gathered was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, regression analysis and independent t-test. Findings revealed that the level of communication skills among students with intellectual disabilities was high. It was also revealed that communication skills acquisition could only account for 5.7% of variance in academic performance of students with intellectual disabilities (R2 = .58; R2 = .57; p <.000). It was also discovered that there was no significant difference between male and female communication skills acquisition (t = 1.03; df = 58; p<.077). The study recommended that schools’ authorities should incorporate communication skills training into routine teaching of students with intellectual disabilities in order to maintain and improve on their current level of communication skills for improved academic performance. Implications for professional counselling were discussed.

Keywords:

Intellectual disabilities, communication skills, academic performance, counselling.