The Effectiveness of Play Therapy Based on Focusing on the Range of Attention and Impulsivity Level in Students with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of attention-focused Plays on the attention and impulsivity of students with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The design of this research was quasi experimental with pre-test, post-test and control group. The statistical population consisted of all boy students with ADHD in Shahrood, at 2016-17 academic years. The participants included 24 students who were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to two experimental and control groups. The research tools were attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder rating scale, Conner's Behavioral Problem Questionnaire, teacher versions and parent version, and the Toulouse& Piron Comet Squares. The experiment group received training in 10 sessions 50 minutes, but the control group did not receive any interventions. One way and multiple variance analysis of covariance showed that the experimental group scores significantly decreased in the impulsivity variable and the range of attention in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group. So, play therapy through increasing sensations focus may be effective in increasing attention and decreasing impulsivity of students with ADHD

Keywords

• attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
• attention range
• impulsivity
• play therapy