Research Article

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED

Volume: 27 Number: 2 August 31, 2026
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NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and specific learning disorder (SLD), are increasingly recognised, yet awareness of developmental language disorder (DLD) and of its former term, specific language impairment (SLI), remains limited. This study examined awareness, knowledge sources, and perceptions of six NDDs among pre-service teachers at two universities in Türkiye. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in spring 2025 with 466 participants from Mersin and Anadolu Universities. Descriptive statistics and paired-sample proportion tests were used to compare DLD awareness with that of other conditions. Results showed that ADHD (82.2%) and ASD (69.5%) were the most recognised, while DLD (23.8%) and SLI (4.3%) were the least recognised. Although some participants reported awareness, most definitions were inaccurate, revealing misconceptions. The media were the primary source of awareness, whereas personal connections had minimal influence. DLD (1.3%) and SLI (1.1%) were rarely selected as the most prevalent NDDs. Findings highlight the need to integrate structured content on NDDs, particularly DLD, into teacher education curricula in Türkiye and similar contexts to foster informed and inclusive teaching practices.

Keywords

Developmental Language Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Awareness, Teacher Education, Türkiye, Inclusive Education

Supporting Institution

Mersin University and Anadolu University

Ethical Statement

Ethical permission was obtained from Mersin University (REF: 33; 23rd of January 2025) for this research.

Thanks

We thank Jae-Hyun Kim, PhD, for his assistance in providing and explaining the details of the online survey that he used in 2022 in Australia. Jae-Hyun Kim and his colleagues’ study inspired us to replicate this study in Türkiye. Their generous sharing made this study possible. We also thank all pre-service teachers who participated in this study.

References

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APA
Durgungoz, F. C., & Kalaycı, G. Ö. (2026). NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 27(2), 570-591. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1910258
AMA
1.Durgungoz FC, Kalaycı GÖ. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED. INUJFE. 2026;27(2):570-591. doi:10.17679/inuefd.1910258
Chicago
Durgungoz, Fatma Canan, and Gülefşan Özge Kalaycı. 2026. “NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27 (2): 570-91. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1910258.
EndNote
Durgungoz FC, Kalaycı GÖ (August 1, 2026) NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27 2 570–591.
IEEE
[1]F. C. Durgungoz and G. Ö. Kalaycı, “NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED”, INUJFE, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 570–591, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.17679/inuefd.1910258.
ISNAD
Durgungoz, Fatma Canan - Kalaycı, Gülefşan Özge. “NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27/2 (August 1, 2026): 570-591. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1910258.
JAMA
1.Durgungoz FC, Kalaycı GÖ. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED. INUJFE. 2026;27:570–591.
MLA
Durgungoz, Fatma Canan, and Gülefşan Özge Kalaycı. “NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, vol. 27, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 570-91, doi:10.17679/inuefd.1910258.
Vancouver
1.Fatma Canan Durgungoz, Gülefşan Özge Kalaycı. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AWARENESS AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN TÜRKİYE: DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER REMAINS UNDER-RECOGNISED. INUJFE. 2026 Aug. 1;27(2):570-91. doi:10.17679/inuefd.1910258