Effectiveness of Executive Function Training Program in Improving Joint Attention Skills in Children with Autism

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Educational and Psychological Sciences - Undersecretary for Education and Students - Faculty of Private Education Misr University of Science and Technology

2 National Institute for Exams and Education Calendar

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of an executive functions training program in improving joint attention skills (pointing- eye contact- gaze shifting- head orientation- imitation) in children with autism. The program focused on some executive functions which included proactivity, cognitive flexibility, organization, and working memory. In addition, the study examined the continuity of the impact of the program on the sample of the experimental group after the follow-up period, which was one month after the completion of the program. The tools of the study included “The Teacher's estimation Scale for Joint Attention (prepared by the researchers) - Estimation List of Autism Symptoms (prepared by the researchers) - The Training Program (prepared by the researchers)”.
The sample of the study consisted of 16 students. Their ages ranged from 8 to10 years. The most important results of the study are: 1) there are statistically significant differences at (0.01) level between the average grades of the experimental and control group in the post- measure of Joint Attention Scale in favor of the experimental group, and 2) there are no statistically significant differences between the average grades of the experimental group in the past and tracked measure on the Joint Attention Scale, which means that there is continuous improvement in the experimental group until the follow-up period.

Keywords

References

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