The Effectiveness of Sensory-Motor Integration on Improvingthe Executive Attention Functions of Students withLearning Disabilities

Sensory integration training leads to increased concentration and attention. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the effectiveness of sensory-motor integration on improving executive attentionfunctions in students with learning disabilities.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttestdesign with a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all students with learningdisabilities who referred to learning disabilities educational centers in Rafsanjan in the year 1998-99;The research sample consisted of 30 people who were selected by available sampling method and wererandomly divided into two experimental groups (15 people) and control (15 people). The questionnairesthat were considered to collect information from the sample group were: Wechsler IQ Scale (1973) andParent Form Executive Performance Questionnaire (2000). Analysis of covariance using SPSS softwareversion 22 was used for statistical analysis of data.

The results showed that in the post-test stage, the mean scores of executive functions in theexperimental group increased significantly compared to the control group (p <0.01).

It can be concluded that sensory-motor integration training is effective in increasing theexecutive functions of students with learning disabilities.