Effectiveness of Information Processing Strategy Training on Academic Task Performance in Children with Learning Disabilities: A Pilot Study

Learning disabilities (LD) can be associated with problems in the four stages of information processing used in learning: input, throughput, output, and feedback. These problems affect the child’s ability to learn and perform activities in daily life, especially during academic activities. This study is a pilot study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of information processing strategy training using a combination of two approaches that address the ability to apply processing strategies during academic activities in children with LD. The two approaches are the Perceive, Recall, Plan, and Perform (PRPP) System of Intervention, which is a strategy training intervention, and the Four-Quadrant Model (4QM) of Facilitated Learning approach, which is a systematic facilitator technique. Twenty children with LD were assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=10) and the control group (n=10). Children in the experimental group received the intervention twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Each treatment session took approximately 50 minutes. Children in the control group received traditional intervention twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks. The results indicated that the combination of the PRPP System of Intervention and the 4QM may improve the participants’ ability to apply information processing strategies during academic activities

RELIABILITY OF THE DYNAMIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT FOR CHILDREN (DOTCA-CH): THAI VERSION OF ORIENTATION, SPATIAL PERCEPTION, AND THINKING OPERATIONS SUBTESTS

The Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch) is a tool for finding out about cognitive problems in school-aged children. However, the DOTCA-Ch was developed in English for Western children. For this reason, it’s not appropriate for Thai children because of the differences of culture and language. The objectives of this study were aimed at translating the DOTCA-Ch in Orientation, Spatial Perception, and Thinking Operations sub tests to a Thai version on a World Health Organization back-translation process, and to examine its internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. Participants consisted of 38 intellectually impaired and learning disabled individuals between the ages of 6–12 years. Results from this study revealed high internal consistency in the Orientation sub test (?=.83) Spatial Perception sub test (?=.82) and Thinking Operations sub test (?=.82); high inter-rater reliability in the Orientation sub test (ICC =.83), Spatial Perception sub test (ICC =.84) and Thinking Operations sub test (ICC =.74); and high test-retest reliability in the Orientation sub test (ICC =.84), Spatial Perception sub test (ICC =.86), and Thinking Operations sub test (ICC =.85). These results indicate that the Thai version of the Orientation, Spatial Perception, and Thinking Operations sub test might be used as an appropriate assessment tool for Thai children, based on psychometric evidence including internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. However, additional study of other psychometric properties, including, predictive validity, concurrent reliability, and inter-rater reliability during the mediation process of this assessment tool needs to be carried out

Reliability of the dynamic occupational therapy cognitive assessment for children (dotca-ch): Thai version of orientation, spatial perception, and thinking operations subtests

The Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch) is a tool for finding out about cognitive problems in school-aged children. However, the DOTCA-Ch was developed in English for Western children. For this reason, it’s not appropriate for Thai children because of the differences of culture and language. The objectives of this study were aimed at translating the DOTCA-Ch in Orientation, Spatial Perception, and Thinking Operations subtests to a Thai version with a World Health Organization back-translation process, and to examine its internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. The participants consisted of 38 intellectually impaired and learning disabled individuals between the ages of 6–12. Results from this study revealed high internal consistency in the Orientation subtest (α=.83) Spatial Perception subtest (α=.82) and Thinking Operations subtest (α=.82), high inter-rater reliability in the Orientation subtest (ICC =.83), Spatial Perception subtest (ICC =.84) and Thinking Operations subtest (ICC =.74) and high test-retest reliability in the Orientation subtest (ICC =.84) Spatial Perception subtest (ICC =.86) and Thinking Operations subtest (ICC =.85). These results indicate that the Thai version of the DOTCA-Ch in Orientation, Spatial Perception, and Thinking Operations subtests  might be used as an appropriate assessment tool for Thai children, based on psychometric evidence including internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. However, additional study of other psychometric properties, including, predictive validity, concurrent reliability, and inter-rater reliability during the mediation process of this assessment tool needs to be carried out