A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of the Verbal Self-Learning Method and Perceptual-Motor Games on the Attention Range of Hyperactive High School Students with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

Students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are among those who are faced extra problems in executive functions and cognitive processes such as memory and attention. They have also some difficulties in problem-solving and everyday life situations. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of verbal self-instruction method with perceptual-motor games on the range of attention of the ADHD students in Tabriz city, Iran.

This research was a semi-experimental and pre-test/post-test one with the control group. The statistical population were all male primary school students in the city of Tabriz in the academic year of 2017-18. They were selected through DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and Children symptoms questionnaire (CSI-4). A random cluster sampling method was used and 60 students with ADHD were randomly selected; Forthy of them were set in experimental groups and 20 in the control group. The Children symptom inventory -4 )CSI-4) (2004) was used for data collection and the multivariate covariance test was used for data analysis.

The results of the single-variable and multivariate analysis of covariance showed that there was a significant difference between the scores of selective attention, sustained attention, shift and control of attention, and attention span of the students in the experimental and control groups at the post-test stage.

Based on the findings, it can be argued that proper interventions such as verbal self-instruction and perceptual-motor games can be effective in addressing the problems of students with ADHD and their improvement. Perceptual-motor methods can improve visual-perceptual processing of children which in turn can improve child’s cognitive skills such as attention.