Investigating the Effectiveness of the Rehabilitation Program Based on Executive Functions on Processing Speed and Attention of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program on processing speed and attention of children with autism spectrum disorder. This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, control group and follow-up design. The statistical population included all autistic students in the academic year 2022-2023 in Tehran. A sample of 20 students were selected by purposive sampling and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received 20 sessions of 30 mins cognitive rehabilitation intervention, twice per week while the control group did not receive any intervention. Integrated Visual and Auditory Continues Performance was used to collect data in three stages (before, after and two months later after the implementation of the cognitive rehabilitation program). The data analyses were done by repeated measurement test. The result showed that the cognitive rehabilitation program had effect on the processing speed and attention of students with autism spectrum disorder. Based on this finding, it is suggested that this program can be used to strengthen and improve executive functions of children with autism spectrum

Relationship between Working Memory, Auditory Perception and Speech Intelligibility in Cochlear Implanted Children of Elementary School

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between working and short-term memory performance, and their effects on cochlear implant outcomes (speech perception and speech production) in cochlear implanted children aged 7-13 years. The study also compared the memory performance of cochlear implanted children with their normal hearing peers. Methods: Thirty-one cochlear implanted children with a mean age of 121.52 months (~10 years) and SD=19.946 and 31 normal hearing children with a mean age 120.68 months (~10 years) and SD=18.137 participated in this study. Their memory performance was assessed by Working Memory Test Battery for Children (1), speech perception was measured by Categories of Auditory Performance (2), and their speech production was assessed by Speech Intelligibility Rating (3). Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS through its descriptive variables MANOVA and Spearman Correlation Coefficient. Results: A significant and positive correlation was observed between working memory performance and cochlear implant outcomes. In addition, the children using cochlear implants had poorer performance compared to their normal hearing peers. Discussion: This study demonstrated that the memory performance of children using cochlear implants has a significant effect on their speech productio

Effectiveness of the Five Component Approach (p5) on Behavioral Problems of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single-Subject research

Abstract Aim: the present study aims at investigating the effectiveness of five components approach (p5) on behavioral problems of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Materials and method: the present study employs an AB single-subject design. The population consists of all adolescents with ASD in the City of Isfahan. The sample size consists of 3 adolescents with ASD selected via the purposive sampling method. The research instruments are the Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis Scale (ASDDS) and the Assessment of Behavioral Problems in Adolescents with Autism Checklist (AABPC). After five baseline sessions, intervention was conducted during eight weeks. Finally, three follow-up sessions were conducted as well. To interpret and make conclusions, charts, visual analyses, the trend index and stability index, Percentage of Non-Overlapping Data (PND), and Percentage of Overlapping Data (PND) were used. Findings: after visual analyses of data charts, it was identified that the intervention was effective on the three subjects. The PND for the three subjects were 87.5, 100, and 87.5. Conclusion: the results indicated that the five component approach (p5) reduces significantly the behavioral problems of adolescents with ASD. Therefore, besides other training and rehabilitation methods for adolescents with ASD, the p5 can be employed

The Role of working memory on the performance of Executive functions in students with learning disabilities

Objective: This research was conducted for studying role of working memory on executive functions in students with learning disabilities (LD). Methods: The sample was consisted of 40 students with LD (20 students with impairment in working memory and 20 students without impairment) and 20 students without LD. The research tools were Raven intelligence test, WMTB-C, tower of London and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results: The results revealed that students with LD having impairments in working memory acquired significantly lower scores on the planning. Results also shows there was no significant difference between learning disability students with impairments in working memory and normal group on the planning. As well as both learning disability groups performed more poorly than normal group on the Flexibility component. Conclusion: This study showed that working memory as a main factor influences on executive function performance in student with learning disabilities

The Effect of Positive Thinking Training on Happiness and Irrational Beliefs in Blind Adolescents

This study was conducted for studying effect of positive thinking intervention on happiness and irrational beliefs in blind adolescents. The study population included blind students of Tehran. The study sample consisted of 30 subjects (in experimental group, n=15 and control group, n=15), that were selected using available sampling. All subjects using Oxford Happiness Inventory and Jones Irrational Beliefs test” were assessed and randomly divided to two groups of experimental and control. Eight session of intervention was launched and multivariate analysis of covariance method was used for measuring effectiveness of intervention program on blind students. The results suggested that there is significant effect on intervention group in both subjects of optimism on happiness and irrational beliefs (The necessity of others approval and support, high self-expectations, tend to self-blame, reaction to failure, affective irresponsility, too much concern associated with anxiety, avoidance scale of issues, dependency, frustration toward, perfectionism). As a conclusion the article says that the positive thinking skills training method can be used as an efficient way to increase positive thinking, happiness and decrease irrational beliefs in blind students

The Effectiveness of Family-Based Software on Reading Skills in Elementary Students with Reading Disorders

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of family-based software on reading skills in elementary students with reading disorder. The statistical population of this study included all 3th grade elementary school students with learning disabilities in Mashhad in the academic year of 2017-2018. The sample of this study consisted of 32 individuals (two groups of 16 people). Due to the existence of 10 learning disabilities centers in Mashhad, they were randomly selected from the list of third grade elementary students with learning disabilities and randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control). The data required for this study were obtained through the Reading Performance Test (Karimi & Nouri, 2005). The educational intervention consisted of 10 sessions in families of students with learning disabilities at the beginning of each week receiving appropriate software exercises from the instructor and working with their child throughout the week. The results showed that family-based softwaretraining had a significant effect on reading skills of students with reading disorder (P <0.05). Thus, it can be said that the content of the software along with the instruction given to families to use it at home has accelerated the process of improving reading problems and disabilities in students with reading disabilities

Designing a Family-centered instructional software for examining its effectiveness on reading skills in elementary students with learning disorder

The purpose of this research is to provide family-centered educational software for assess its effectiveness the reading skills of elementary students with specific learning disability. The population of this research includes all students in third grad of elementary schools in Mashhad learning disabilities who were enrolled in 2018. The sample of 32 patients (group 16) form according to ten Learning Disorders Center at Mashhad systematic random sampling from the list of students from third basic learning disability centers (N = 215) 32 people selected randomly in two experimental and control groups were located. Data collection for this study by examining the cursor (Karami& Moradi, 2005), respectively. The results showed that family-based education software on children's reading performance with reading bakery (F=540/41,P<0/001 ) it is affect. This means that the content of the application as well as the training that was given to families to use it at home were able to improve reading difficulties and disabilities, students with disabilities accelerated reading up

The effect of training emotional self-regulation strategies on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder

Background: Research has shown that emotional self-regulation training has been effective in increasing emotional health, social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems in children with learning disabilities, comorbidity, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. But there is a research gap in the application of these trainings in the research community. Aims: The effect of training emotional self-regulation strategies on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Methods: The present research method is quasi-experimental pretest, posttest design with two groups experiment. The statistical population included all students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades of state centers for learning disabilities in District 4 Education of Tehran in the academic year of 1398-1399. 30 students were selected as the sample by available sampling method and randomly divided into experimental group and group of control (15 people in each group). Research instruments include: Connerss Child behavior Degree Scale- Teacher Form (1990), Zhou & Jei Scale (2012), Learning Disability Assessment Scale - Second Edition McCarney & Arthaud (2007), Experience-Based Child Behavior Checklist Achenbach & Rescola (2001) 8 sessions 60-Minute Emotion Regulation Training Program (Allen, 2009). Data analysis using univariate analysis of variance and by spss.24 software was performed Results: Barkley's parenting education program had an effect on social competence (p<0.0001) and behavioral problems (p<0.001) and emotion self-regulatory strategies on academic performance (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be said that emotional self-regulation is effective on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder

The Effictiveness of Arsh Leisure Time Program on the Working Memory, Cognitive Capacity and Communication Skills of Children with Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability affects all aspect of individual's life, while applying leisure time program has been associated with effective outcomes. Present study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of Arsh leisure time program on the working memory, cognitive capacity and communication skills of children with intellectual disability. The present research was a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test design and control group. The participants were 30 girl children with intellectual disability from exceptional schools in Isfahan city using randomly method. Subjects were divided into experimental and control groups, each group consisting of 15 children. The experimental group received 16 sessions of Arsh leisure time program and the control group did not. The instruments were working memory test battery for children (2017), Wechsler intelligence scale for children (2003) and communication skills questionnaire (1990). Data were analyzed by MANCOVA. The results showed that Arsh leisure time program had a significant effect on the working memory, cognitive capacity and communication skills of subjects (P<0.0001). Arsh leisure time program improved working memory, cognitive capacity and communication skills of children with intellectual disability. So planning leisure time program for these children have specific importance

Prediction of Blood Glucose Level through Irrational Health Beliefs and Health Locus of Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Tehran City

Background and Aim: Diabetes is a chronic disease that physiological, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and social factors play a role in preventing, risk and regulating it. This research aimed to predict blood glucose control by the use of irrational health beliefs and health locus of control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: The research population consisted of all type 2 diabetic patients referring to the two centers of Alzahra School of Charity Hospital and Diabetes Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences that 300 patients were chosen as sample by convenience sampling method. Data were gathered by using Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) and Irrational Health Belief Scale (IHBS) and analyzed by regression. Ethical Considerations: This study was approved in Research Ethics Committee of biomedical researches in Tehran Universiry with the code IR.ut.Rec.1395.030. Findings: There is a significant correlation between the predictive variables of irrational health beliefs (p <0.05), inner locus of control and others (p <0.05), and chance locus of control (p <0.01). The results also indicate that the health locus of control and Irrational beliefs predict significantly the changes in the amount of glucose (R=19, R2=0.037, F(4. 293)=2.80, p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, we can say that by identifying the health locus of control and irrational health beliefs, it is possible that blood glucose level can be predicted in patients with type 2 diabetes and reduced the consequences of diabetes in people with it