Development and Content Validity of Working Memory Training Program (WMTP) in Children with Specific Learning Disorder

Children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) suffer from impairment/limitation in their working memory capacity. More effective interventions require approved training program by experts. The purpose of the present study was to develop a working memory training program (WMTP) for children with SLD and assess their validity by experts.
First, a proper working memory model was selected and then working memory-related activities were selected from various sources. Next, the activities were classified and approved by 13 experts in SLD. Later the face and content validities of activities of WMTP were evaluated and the activities were graded. The content validity was assessed using CVR.
The WMTP was designed based on Baddeley model. Overall, this program consists of 14 visuo-spatial working memory and 13 phonological activities with each activity divided into four categories according to the levels of difficulty. Each category consists of easy to hard (no=7), moderate (no=7), moderate to hard (no=7), and hard (no=6) activities. All the activities had acceptable CVR.
According to the results obtained in the present study, the WMTP could be applied by occupational therapists for children with SLD. The efficacy of this program should be assessed in further studies.