Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Development Of Early Intervention Program Based On Executive Functions And The Study Of Its Effectiveness On Social Performance Of Children With Intellectual Disability

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PhD Student of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children,Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran,Author of Correspondefce
3 Assistant Professor, Department of psychology, Ahvaz Branch,Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of psychology, Ahwaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Executive functions can be considered as the umbrella of cognitive and social abilities. Accordingly, executive functions such as behavioral inhibition, flexibility, information organization, targeting, and self-monitoring can provide educational and social achievement for children, however, research findings suggest that executive functions in mentally retarded children have limitations and fundamental problems . Accordingly the purpose of this study is to develop a early intervention program based on executive functions and its effectiveness on improving social developmentof Children with intellectual disabilities.
Materials and Methods: The method of this research is experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group. The statistical population of this study is all children with a low educational level of 50 to 70 students who are studying in the pre-school period of exceptional schools in Tehran. Among them, 20 subjects were selected by non-random sampling method and divided into two groups (n = 12) and control group (n = 8). The data of this study, which were collected using the New Version of Tehran-Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and Social Growth Scale for Social Development (Gersham & Eliot), were using SPSS software for analyzed  MANCOVER repeated measures test.
Results: Results: The findings of the study indicate that early intervention program based on executive functions has led to a significant improvement
(p= 0.001) in social skills among performance of the Children with intellectual disabilities .
Conclusion: According to the findings, it is suggested that executive functions should be considered as a pillar and axis of early interventions, given the great importance they play in the cognitive and social functioning of children with intellectual disabilities.
Keywords