Effectiveness of Rhythmic Play on the Attention and Memory Functioning in Children with Mild Intellectual Disability (MID)

Abstract

The present paper aimed at investigating the effects of rhythmic play on ID (Intellectually Disabled), children’s attention and memory functioning at the age range of 9-16 years. Research measures included Raven Colored progressive matrixes for children and Canners neuropsychological test and Vinland adaptive behavior scale questionnaire. Statistical population comprised all ID students in elementary schools in the city of Esfahan in the Iranian academic year 2011. The research sample consisted of 20 children with intellectual disability selected by using multistage random sampling. Then, homogeneous in sensory and motor skills, participants were divided into two groups of ten: control and experimental. After receiving the parental consent, the researchers applied rhythmic movements to experimental group twice a week 45 minutes for each session for three months as an intervention program. Eight rhythmic movements (play) were employed in this research. The results revealed that rhythmic movements would affect attention problems (focus of attention, sustained attention, shifting attention, divided attention and attention capacity), general attention, memory (short-term, long-term, working), as well as general learning problems in educable children with intellectual disability according to their performance scales.