Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation (CCR) on working memory, sustained attention and math performance inchildren with autism spectrum disorders

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation (CCR) on working memory,sustained attention, and math performance in children with autism spectrum disorder. Method: The study method was quasi-experimental with pretest/ post-test/follow-up design and the statistical population was estimated to be 180 children, included all children with autism spectrum disorder in Tehran. These were referred to Neda e Asr , Beh Ara and Second of April centers during the years 2017-2018. Among them, 24 children with moderate to high performance, were selected using convenient sampling due to including criteria and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Ravens Progressive Matrices 1938, was used to examine participants belonging to the normal range of intelligence and then Iran Key Math Diagnostic Test 1998 and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery 1980 were played for both groups in three consecutives of pretest, post-test and follow-up and the Captain’s Log Mind Power Builder Manual2000 was presented to the experimental group in 16 sessions of 60 minutes twice a week and data were analyzed using mixed variance analysis with repeated measurements. Results: The results showed that the interaction effect of the intra-subject for all three variables include mathematical Performance (F= 7.66, P= 0.002), working memory (F= 22.58, P= 0.001) and constant attention (F= 9.16, P= 0.001) were significant. Conclusion: Such findings can confirm the possibility of taking advantage of technology to improve the cognitive functions of people with autism spectrum disorder while significantly reducing therapeutic costs. Computerized Captain’s Log Mind Power Builder Manual can also be an appropriate instrument to teach such cognitive abilities to children with autism spectrum disorder

Keywords:

autism , computer , cognitive rehabilitation , math performance , sustained attention , working memory