ERIC Number: EJ1363215
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2047-3869
EISSN: EISSN-2047-3877
Available Date: N/A
Comprehensive Attention Training System (CATS): A Computerized Executive-Functioning Training for School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, v68 n4 p528-537 2022
Objective: Theory suggests that impaired executive functioning (EF) might explain several symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. However, only a few studies have examined the efficacy of EF training for the children using randomized control trial designs, and only two of them found significant benefits of the training. Method: We designed Comprehensive Attention Training System (CATS), and tested this new EF intervention for children with ASD in a small-sampled randomized controlled trial. Twenty-five children with ASD aged six to twelve were randomly assigned to either the CATS or the control training and were assessed pre- and post-training. Results: Relative to the control group, the CATS group improved on EF as measured by the trail-making test, avoiding perseverative errors, and forming conceptual responses in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. There were also indications that CATS contributed to long-term communication skills as measured by the Vineland adaptive behavior scales. Conclusions: We report preliminary evidence that the CATS intervention may improve the EF of school-aged children with ASD compared to a control intervention. We discuss the results in terms of their generalizability to other developmental disorders.
Descriptors: Students with Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Executive Function, Training, Program Effectiveness, Attention, Intervention, Communication Skills, Planning, Inhibition, Self Control, Cognitive Restructuring, Behavior Modification, Drug Therapy, Biofeedback, Computer Assisted Instruction, Foreign Countries, Cognitive Ability
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Raven Progressive Matrices; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment; Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Trail Making Test; Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A