Effectiveness of "Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation" on Attention Span, Working Memory and Language Skills of Children With Specific Language Impairment

Language is a basic skill and one of the important cognitive areas in children. The aim of the current research is to determine the effectiveness of "Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation"  on attention span, working memory and language skills of children with specific language impairment.

The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post -test-follow-up plan with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all children aged 5 to 7 years with specific language impairment who were engaged in education in normal preschool centers in the academic year of 2022-2023 and had referred to speech therapy centers in Borujerd city to receive speech and language services. The sample size was 30 people who were selected from among the statistical population by purposive sampling method and assigned randomly to intervention and control groups. Research instruments included demographic Questionnaire, "Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Fourth Edition)" (WISC-IV), Clinical interview based on DSM-5 criteria, and "Neuropsychological Skills (Teacher Form) Questionnaire for Preschool Children". The content validity of the instruments was measured by qualitative method and reliability was measured through internal consistency method by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. After implementing 12 intervention sessions based on "Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation"  on the intervention group, the data were analyzed in SPSS .24.

"Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation"  was effective on attention span, working memory and language skills of children with specific language impairment (P<0.01). Also, the effect of time on attention span, working memory and language skills was effective compared to the pre-test stage (P<0.01).

"Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation"  was effective in increasing attention span, improving working memory and improving language skills of children with specific language impairment. Therefore, it is suggested to use the above intervention to improve children's cognitive and language skills.