Comparison among children with specific learning disorder (SLD) and typically children on measures of planning, selective attention and cognitive flexibility

Executive function deficits of children with specific learning disorder can new hatch way for treatment and etiology in these children. Destruction of executive function is one of several potential cognitive phenotypes in a specific learning disorder. Thus, the present paper aims to comparison of executive functions in students with specific learning disorder and typically students. In this cross-sectional study, 29 students with specific learning disabilities (reading deficits) and 30 normal students were selected using convenience sampling method based on psychiatric criteria with psychologist and psychiatrist's diagnosis. Then Tower of London, Stroop color word and Wisconsin card sorting tests were completed by student with specific learning disorder. The data was analyzed by spss20 software and descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance was used. There is a significant difference between children with specific learning disorder and typically children in cognitive flexibility (F=0.051), planning (F=0.051) and selective attention (F=0.051) of executive functions. The results of this study indicate that there is a deficiency in the executive functions of children with specific learning disabilities (reading deficits). Therefore, it is recommended that new therapeutic interventions designed to restore the executive functions in children with specific learning disorder (reading deficits).