specific learning disorder

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) have major difficulties in learning and using listening, speaking, reading, writing, and math skills. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of proprioception-enhancing exercises on dyslexia and dysgraphia in students with SLD. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The study population consisted of all girl and boy elementary school students (2nd and 3rd grades) with SLD who received educational and rehabilitation services from public and private centers for learning disorders in Ahvaz, Iran in 2022. Using convenience sampling, 30 students were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (n= 15 per group). The participants in the experimental group received proprioception-enhancing exercises in twelve 45-minute sessions, whereas those in the control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Reading and Dyslexia Test and Dysgraphia Test. The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). According to the demographic results, the mean age of the students in the experimental and control groups was 8.64±2.31 and 8.30±2.47 years, respectively. The results showed that proprioception-enhancing exercises were effective in improving dyslexia and dysgraphia in students with SLD (p<0.01). It can be hence concluded that proprioception-enhancing exercises improve not only dyslexia and dysgraphia in students with SLD but also their academic performance.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on the executive functions (behavioral and cognitive regulation) of students with specific learning disorder. The research method was experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of the research was made up of all the students with specific learning disorder who referred to the learning disorders center of Ardabil in the academic year of 2021-2022, from which 40 students were selected using the available sampling method. Then, they were randomly replaced in the experimental group (20 participants) and the control group (20 participants). The experimental group was exposed to cognitive rehabilitation intervention for 11 sessions. To collect data, the behavioral rating questionnaire of Gioia et al. (2000) was used. The data were analyzed through the analysis of covariance statistical test. The findings showed that cognitive rehabilitation intervention improved executive functions (behavioral and cognitive regulation) in students with specific learning disorder of the experimental group (P<0.01). Considering the effect of cognitive rehabilitation intervention in students with special learning disorder, schools and counseling centers can use this type of treatment in working with these children to improve their executive functions (behavioral and cognitive regulation).