Effectiveness of selected motor program on working memory, attention and motor skills of students with math learning disorders

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 PhD, Department of Physical Education, Tehran University, Iran

2 Associate Prof., Department of Physical Education, Tehran University, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aims: Todays learning disorders are the most important causes of poor academic performance and every year many students find it difficult to learn content of some of the textbooks, especially mathematics. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of the selected motor program on working memory, attention, and motor skills of female students with math learning disorders.
Materials and Methods: In the current study, pre-test and post-test designwas used as a semi-experimental study and 30 female students with math learning disorder were selected as random sampling method from the statistical society that included all 8-12 year-old girls with learning disorders from primary school in the city of Estahban who were divided into two groups of intervention group and control (15 each). The instruments used were a researcher-made questionnaire, Raven’s IQ test, KMat math test, Wechsler numerical memory scale (Digit Span), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), and Bruninks-Oseretsky Motor proficiency test. The selected motor program (SPARC), which includes activities for reinforcement, play, and exercise for children, was conducted for 24 sessions (Eight weeks, three sessions per week). The normality of collected data was first studied using Shapiro-wilk test and to study the effect of independent variables on dependent variables, the analysis of multivariate variance was used.
Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups among students with math learning disorder in working memory, attention, and motor skills (P<0.001). This means that working memory, attention, and motor skills in the experimental group improved after the selected motor program.
Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the chosen motor program (SPARC) can improve the working memory, attention, and motor skills in children with math learning disorders. It is recommended that therapists, along with other therapeutic interventions, use these exercises for children with learning disabilities.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 8, Issue 3
October 2019
Pages 209-220

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 January 2019
  • Revise Date: 11 February 2019
  • Accept Date: 24 February 2019
  • First Publish Date: 23 September 2019

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