Effect of Perceptual-Motor Training and Mindfulness on Attentional Networks and Accuracy of Response in Children with Attention Disorde-Hyperactivity

Today, considering the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), more researches are needed to determine the impact of non-pharmacological training and strategies to help people with ADHD. The present study was conducted with this purpose in mind by applying perceptual-motor variables and mindfulness variables.

The present semi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest design with two experimental groups and a control group was conducted on 30 children ADHD (mean age 9.5 ± 1/65) selected using subjective sampling. Participants were involved in a pre-test session to perform attention networks test. Then, the intervention for each experimental group was applied for eight sessions, one hour each session. The same test was administered as post-test on both groups (mindfulness and cognitive-motor training) following four weeks of training, two sessions per week and one hour per session. ANCOVA and compound analysis of variance (3 groups*2 time factors) with repeated measures, with the significance level set at p <0.05, were used to test the research hypotheses.

The findings showed that perceptual-motor training and mindfulness had a significant effect on the accuracy of response and some subgroups (indicators) of attention deficit hyperactivity networks. No significant changes were observed in the control geoup. So, the effect of mindfulness was found to be greater.

According to the results, using mindfulness and cognitive-motor training along with other therapies are recommended for these children.