The effects of response inhibition and working memory training programs on improving social skills in children with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of response inhibition and working memory training programs on improving social skills in children with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. The design of the study was quasi-experimental with pretest-post test and control group. Population of the study included all children with ADHD between ages seven to eleven (7-11) who were attending Rofeideh Rehabilitation Hospital in Tehran. They were diagnosed as having Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. Sixteen subjects who were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: experimental and control group. Conner’s Parent Rating Scale was used to assess attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms، Gresham and Elliot’s Social Skills Rating System was used to measure their social skills and Raven’s Progressive Matrices for children was used to assess their intellectual functioning. Experimental group received 24 sessions (every session 60 minutes) of intervention programs about response inhibition that designed by the investigators and working memory enhancement while control group received no specific treatment. Data were analyzed by using analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings showed significant differences (P<0/01) between experimental and control groups in social skills. Current study indicated that response inhibition and working memory training programs can improve social skills.