Background: According to the research literature, there was a relationship
between cognitive functions of attention and working memory and linguistic
skills. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of cognitive
rehabilitation on the improvement of the linguistic skills in 9-12 years old
children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Methods: 40 students in grade 4, 5 and 6 of a primary school in Miyane city
were assigned equally and randomly to two intervention and control groups. The
research design was experimental with pre-test, post-test, follow-up, and control
group. The language tests included; Thurston Verbal Fluency task, Token test of
receptive language, Boston naming speed test, Assessment of Persian Reading
Ability (APRA), verbal working memory subtest of Wechsler Intelligence Scale
for Children, and Attention Register task. Parental version of the Swanson,
Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP-IV) questionnaire was used to screen ADHD. The
intervention method was based on Attentive Rehabilitation of Attention and
Memory (ARAM) with emphasis on attention and working memory. Mixed
ANOVA statistical test was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results showed that the linguistic skills assessed in the research
which include naming (F=29.42, P=0.01), verbal fluency (phonological fluency:
F=15.68, P=0.01; semantic fluency: F=13.73, P=0.01), reading abilities (alphabet
reading 1: F=17.84, P=0.01; alphabet reading 2: F=27.07, P=0.01; word reading:
F=19.82, P=0.01; reading ability: F=19.97, P=0.01; voice change: F=13.47, P=0.01;
reading comprehension: F=36.85, P=0.01), comprehension (F=6.75, P=0.01),
verbal working memory (direct digits: F=7.7, P=0.01; inverse digits: F=14.26,
P=0.01) and attention (attention registration 1: F=10.23, P=0.01; attention
registration 2: F=4.33, P=0.04) were improved, following the intervention.
Conclusion: Computerized Training of working memory and attention can
enhance the language skills in children with ADHD. This result confirmed the
role of attention and working memory on language skills
