The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on Cognitive Functions (Working Memory, Concentration, and Attention) of Adolescents Living in Boarding Schools

Background: Cognitive rehabilitation is a way to restore lost cognitive capacities. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents living in boarding schools in Tehran. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population includes all adolescents living in welfare boarding schools in the age group was ۱۵ to ۱۸ years old, and they were in Tehran in ۲۰۱۸. Out of ۱۰۰ people, ۶۰ people who had problems in the mentioned variables were randomly selected, and randomly divided into two groups of ۳۰ people. The first group underwent eight individual sessions of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (by NBK software), and the second group, as a control group, did not receive any treatment. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance and Spss.۲۲ software. Results: The results showed that the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy was effective on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: It can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation can successfully affect numerous aspects of cognitive functions, while numerous medical therapies may be required to treat each mere aspect. Further evaluations are strongly recommended.

Keywords:

adolescent , attention , cognition , schools , memory.