Investigating the Efficacy of the Game on Improving Visual Attention and Spelling Performance of Students with Special Learning Disabilities

Specific learning disability leads to weakness in basic areas of learning. Therefore, it is important pay attention to training of these children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of game on enhancing visual attention and improving spelling performance in students with special learning disabilities in the third grade of elementary school. The present study is a single- subject design. The statistical population of this study included all students with special learning disabilities with difficulty in writing who were studying in the third grade of elementary school in 2018-2019 academic year. The research sample included 4 individuals (2 boys and 2 girls) that were selected using a purposeful method. Wechsler Intelligence Test, Toulouse-Pieron Short Form Accuracy Test, Fallahchay’s Written Expression Test and Spelling Evaluation Test were used to collect information. The training program was developed by researchers, and the subjects were trained in twelve sessions, two sessions per week, individually. The results showed that the training program had a positive effect on the visual attention and spelling performance of the subjects. In terms of visual attention, the percentage of heterogeneous data was PND= 0.75 for the first, second, and third participants, and in relation to the fourth participant, it was PND=0.100. In relation to spelling performance, the calculated PND for all four participants was 0.75. According to the results of the present study, game is effective in improving visual attention and reducing spelling errors of students with special learning disabilities.