The Effects of a Training Program Based on Playing Activities for Reducing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Educable Mentally-Disabled Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a training program based on playing activities for reducing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )ADHD( among educable mentally-disabled students. The sample of the study included sixteen students with mild mental retardation from Al Fujairah Rehabilitant Center according to the (ADHD) Scale and the Wechsler Scale (the Emirati version). The students’ age range was between six to nine years old, according to the Center’s official documents. With an average of 7.2 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.89, the students were divided equally into two groups; experimental (n=8) and control (n=8) groups. The experimental group was exposed to the training program for eight weeks during the academic year 2013/2014 after testing the hypothesis using Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitne and ‘Z’ score. Findings revealed that there was a significant difference for the ADHA measure between the means of the rank of the experimental group in the pre- and post-tests in favor of the post-test measure; while there was no significant difference found for the control group which followed the traditional training method. Based on the research findings, the researchers made several recommendations such as the possible adaptation of play by the Rehabilitation Center as a method of intervention for several types of behavioral disorders that students with intellectual disabilities may have. Other recommendation are to focus on the integration between educational programs and rehabilitation program for students with mental disabilities and to stress on the importance of physical education teachers’ roles in providing appropriate physical activities.