The Effect of Executive Function Training on Executive Performance and Behavioral Symptoms of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Introduction: Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder is a psychiatric disorder that appears in
childhood and is the most common neurological disorder in childhood. The aim of this research was to
investigate the effect of executive function (EF) training on executive performance and behavioral
symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Method: This study performed on 6 students with ADHD (2 students per each ADHD subtypes) from
Pol Sefid town. CSI-4 scale and Raven’s colored progressive matrices were used to assess behavioral
symptoms of ADHD and IQ respectively. We used Persian software of CPT to assess sustained
attention, Persian software of Tower of London test (TOL) to assess planning and SNAP-IV scale to
assess behavioral symptoms of ADHD. The data were analyzed using a comparison between baseline
behavior rates and the behavior rates of treatment phase as well as the Cohen effect sizes.
Results: Results showed that computerized EF training led to increased Sustained attention and
planning and decreased symptoms of ADHD in all subjects of different ADHD subtypes.
Conclusion: This study showed that the use of computerized EF training can reduce ADHD symptoms
and improve EF functioning. Therefore, it is recommended to use computerized EF training as
complementary method to behavioral and pharmacological treatments.