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Background and aim: The present study evaluates spatial working memory and strategy use, that are from the most important executive functions in performing the learning tasks and intellectual actions in children with cerebral palsy ( spastic diplegia ).

Materials and methods: For this cross sectional/analytical study, 40 children between 7 and 12 were recruited by random sampling into 2 groups: twenty children with cerebral palsy ( spastic diplegia ), with mean age of 8.94 years and 20 normal children with mean age of 8.86 years. Data were collected using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire ( SDQ ), CANTAB and Raven test of intelligence. Data were analyzed using t-test.

Results: Children with cerebral palsy differ from the normal children in spatial working memory. Comparing of the means of errors, were illustrated in 3 distinct features, demonstrated meaninngful difference between 2 groups ( p<0.05 ),except in double error ( p>0.05 ) however there was no significant difference in function of strategy use between 2 groups ( p>0.05 ).

Conclusion: In regard with these findings, cognitive rehabilitation with focus on executive skills can be useful in clinical treatment, parallel to the traditional methods, for spatial working memory in children with cerebral palsy.

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Background and aim: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common disorder in human society with many somatosensory problems that affects on functional capability. Dexterity affects activity of daily activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Progressive resistive exercises on strength and dexterity of cerebral palsy persons.

Materials and methods: Twelve CP persons between 8 to 16 years old (10 boys and 2 girls) with mean age of 11.9 years old participated in this study.

Progressive resistive exercises (PRE) protocols were done on upper extremity of  study group 3 times a week for 6 weeks.  Strength of shoulder abductors and extensors were evaluated by MMT NICHOLAS apparatus. Grip strength and dexterity were evaluated by Jammar Dynammometer and Purdue peg board respectively.

Results: Shoulder abductors and extensors strength increased %29.4 (p=0.0001) and %30.1 (p=0.014). Grip strength and dexterity improved %9.8 (p=0.048) and dexterity %23 (p= 0.016) respectively.

Conclusion: PRE increase muscle strength of upper extremity and may improve dexterity in children with cerebral palsy.

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Background and aim: Spasticity cause abnormal patterns in upper limbs of cerebral palsy children .It restricts hand function in grasp and release movement. In occupational therapy, neurophysiologic approaches include motor techniques, training and treatment for decreasing hypertonicity and biomechanical approach includes use of splint. In present study the effects of volar and dorsal splint were determined in decreasing of spasticity in upper limbs of quadriplegia cerebral palsy children with four up to six years old

Materials and methods: Twenty quadriplegia spastic children (4-6 years old) were participated in this study. They were classified in two groups. One group wears volar splint and the other group wears dorsal splint for two hours per days and four hours at night up to twelve weeks. Spasticity and passive range of motion were measured by modified  Ashworth scale and goniometry respectively

Results: The mean of wrist spasticity was 2.5 in volar splint group before intervention and 1.9 after intervention. The mean of wrist passive range of motion was 93.50 before intervention and 123.50 after intervention. Elbow passive range of motion was 113 in pre intervention and 135.50 in post intervention. The mean of wrist spasticity was 2.6 in dorsal splint group before intervention and 2.00 after intervention. The mean of wrist passive range of motion was 89.5 before intervention and 118.50 after intervention. Elbow passive range of motion was 110.50 in pre intervention and 135.50 in post intervention. Statistical Analysis of t-student and paired t-tests showed significant differences between the pre and post intervention in all parameters (p<0.05)

Conclusion:  The result of present study showed that both of the splints affected to decrease spasticity of wrist and increase wrist and elbow passive range of motion of hand. Based on this evidence, both of the splints would be suggested for spastic`s hand treatment. Due to major problem in making dorsal splint, we suggest volar splint for  reducing  spasticity in cerebral palsy children.

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Back ground and aim: The present study evaluates attentional set shifting, that is from the most important executive functions in performing the learning tasks and intellectual actions in children with cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia).
Materials and Methods: For this cross sectional/analytical study, 40 children between 7 and 12 were recruited by random sampling into 2 groups: 20 children with cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia), with mean age of 8.94 years old and 20 normal children with mean age of 8.86 years old. Data were collected using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), CANTAB and Raven test of intelligence. Data were analyzed using independent t-test.
Results: Children with cerebral palsy did not differ from the normal children in attentional set shifting. Comparing of the means of errors, trials and complete stages, with 18 outputs over all, demonstrated no significant difference between 2 groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: In regard with these findings, it seems that children with cerebral palsy are not weak in attentional set shifting in comparing with peers, while in some other metacognitive functions such as spatial planning, working memory capacity and spatial working memory, these children are more retarded than normal children.

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Background and Aim: Reading skill is necessary for academic achievement, that deaf children have problems in this skill due to hearing impairment. Use of cochlear implant can improve auditory inputs. The aim of this study was to investigate the reading skills of children with cochlear implants and comparing that with normal ones.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive - analytic study was done on 24 children with cochlear implant and 24 normal ones that was selected from second and third grades students of Tehran primary schools. Children's reading performance was assessed by Nama reading test and the data were analyzed using T-test, linear regression and Pearson correlations.

Results: The results showed that the means of reading scores of normal children were significantly greater than the cochlear implanted ones (P<0.01). Also, there was a significant relationship between reading skills and period of cochlear implant (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Cochlear implanted children showed weaker performance in reading skills than normal ones due to less access to auditory and Phonological information. It seems that early surgery and cochlear implant before the age of language learning can be partially compensated reading defects of deaf children.

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Background and Aim: “Executive function” is a term describing the processes required for conscious control of thought, emotion, and action that have centered role in management of one's day-to-day life. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between executive function and performance on selected linguistic tasks in persons with aphasia (PWA) and left frontal lobe lesions.

  

Materials and Methods : Subjects were 12 right-handed, left hemisphere stroke patients and 12 normal adults as control group. Farsi aphasia test were administered to determine of persence and type of aphasia, as well as auditory comperehension(AC) and naming scors. Wisconsin Card Sort Test(WCST) and Tower Of London(TOL) were used to assess the executive function skills of planning, working memory, mental flexibility, self monitoring, inhibition irrelevant behavior, shifting between concept and action.

 

Results: The control group scored higher than the individuals with aphasia on the executive function tests (P<0/001). In WCST there was not a significant correlation between the AC and category completed (CC) as well as preservative errors(PE). There was a significant correlation between the AC and total errors (TE) (p=0/02) . There was a significant correlation between naming and CC (p=0/01) and TE (p=0/005). There was not a significant correlation when comparing the naming and PE (p=0/194). A comparison between naming scores and TOL showed a significant correlation (p=0/009). There was not a significant correlation between AC and TOL (p=0/113).

  

Conclusion: This study showed that individuals with aphasia have cognition disorder, other than language disorder. If they have a good naming ability, patients ' performance ontestsof executive function will be better.

 

Keywords: Aphasia, Executive function, Language function, Naming, Auditory comprehension, Persian Language