Effects Of A Computerized Working Memory Training Program On Attention, Working Memory, And Academics, In Adolescents With Severe ADHD/LD

The Hospital for Sick Children

Status

Completed

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

Learning Disorders

Treatments

Other: Special Education/Individualized Tutoring

Other: Cogmed Working Memory Training Program.

Other: Academy of Math

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00930449

1000013779

Details and patient eligibility

About

Our primary aim is to determine whether a computerized working memory (WM) training program will help students with severe learning and attention problems, in terms of improving their WM. Additional aims are to determine whether the WM training will also result in improvements in the students' concentration and school work, and how long any beneficial effects will last (i.e., whether the students will continue to show improvements once the training program has stopped).

Full description

We have established a collaborative partnership between OISE, HSC, OPDS, and JVS to evaluate the effectiveness of a WM training program when conducted in a school setting. To determine whether the WM training program does improve WM, attention, behaviour, and/or academic achievement, we will compare its effects to those expected to result from two other intervention programs that focus on academic skills only: 1) a computerized software program known to improve math skills (Academy of Math®); and 2) extra, individualized tutoring in an area of academic weakness supervised by a trained and experienced staff person. We will assess WM, related cognitive abilities, ADHD symptoms, academic achievement, before and after intervention, and also at 3- and 6-month follow-up to determine whether any improvements are sustained and increased after the training has finished.

Enrollment

120 patients

Sex

All

Ages

12 to 17 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

fulltime enrollment at one of the three English-language speaking OPDS schools
confirmed diagnosis of a specific LD with or without comorbid ADHD
IQ > 80 (based on WISC-IV)
English as the primary spoken language

Exclusion criteria

uncorrected sensory impairments (vision, hearing)
severe comorbid mental health disorders requiring medications other than those used for ADHD or intensive treatment
severe impairments in oral communication, impeding intelligibility of spoken responses