Investigating the Effectiveness of the Rehabilitation Program Based on Executive Functions on Processing Speed and Attention of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program on processing speed and attention of children with autism spectrum disorder. This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, control group and follow-up design. The statistical population included all autistic students in the academic year 2022-2023 in Tehran. A sample of 20 students were selected by purposive sampling and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received 20 sessions of 30 mins cognitive rehabilitation intervention, twice per week while the control group did not receive any intervention. Integrated Visual and Auditory Continues Performance was used to collect data in three stages (before, after and two months later after the implementation of the cognitive rehabilitation program). The data analyses were done by repeated measurement test. The result showed that the cognitive rehabilitation program had effect on the processing speed and attention of students with autism spectrum disorder. Based on this finding, it is suggested that this program can be used to strengthen and improve executive functions of children with autism spectrum.

Keywords

• attention
• autism spectrum disorder
• cognitive rehabilitation
• processing speed