Behavioral and Cognitive Interventions With Digital Devices in Subjects With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In recent years, digital devices have been progressively introduced in rehabilitation programs and have affected skills training methods used with children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID). The objective of this review is to assess the effects of the use of digital devices on the cognitive functions and behavioral skills in this population, and to acknowledge their potential as a therapeutic tool. Electronic databases were analyzed until February 2020 using search formulas with free terms related to ID and the use of digital systems with children or adolescents. The risk of bias in randomized controlled trials was assessed by means of the modified Cochrane Collaboration tool and the quality level of the non-randomized studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Forty-four studies were analyzed, most of which were categorized as low quality. Of the executive function studies analyzed, 60% reported significant improvements, most commonly related to working memory. Within the cognitive skills, 47% of the studies analyzed reported significant improvements, 30% of them in language. Significant improvements in the social (50%) and behavioral domains (30%) were also reported. These results suggest that digital interventions are effective in improving working memory and academic skills, and positively affect both the social and behavioral domains. Little information has been published regarding the duration of the effects, which could be limited in time. Further research is necessary to assess long-term effectiveness, the influence of comorbidities, and the effects on subjects with severe ID. The inclusion of smartphones and special education centers is also necessary.

Digital Device Exposure and Cognition Levels of Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Cross-sectional Study in Cambodia

“…Studies have demonstrated that digital devices provide only short-term improvements in children’s cognitive abilities during interventions [ 11 , 16 - 19 ]. A recent study on patients with an intellectual disability diagnosis showed significant improvement in cognitive function using digital devices [ 20 ]. Moreover, most studies have focused on the experience of high-income countries or different age groups and patient-only analyses [ 14 , 20 - 23 ].…”

“…A recent study on patients with an intellectual disability diagnosis showed significant improvement in cognitive function using digital devices [ 20 ]. Moreover, most studies have focused on the experience of high-income countries or different age groups and patient-only analyses [ 14 , 20 - 23 ]. The evidence provided by these studies may not be relevant to LMICs because of their different socioeconomic environments and cultures.…”

Psychosocial‐behavioural interventions for school‐aged children with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of randomised control trials

“…While still meeting the criteria for an RCT, such recruitment practices may raise concerns about the representability of the samples for the entire population group. As reported in a recent systematic review, there is a shift to using digital devices within research interventions (Moreno et al, 2021). It may be of interest to explore the use of technology such as applications available on smartphones, to increase the involvement of parents and other caregivers within the education and support of their children with intellectual disabilities.…”

An Integrated Support System for People with Intellectual Disability

“…Several initiatives, research projects, platforms, and applications have been developed revolving around the use of digital technologies for assisting Individuals with ID (IID) and their families. Along this direction, a recent study [12] concluded that using digital devices can have positive effects on children and adolescents with ID, including improvements in executive function, basic cognitive-linguistic skills, academic skills, and social and behavioral skills; thus, they can prove highly assistive to people with disabilities. The assistive technologies are either integrated platforms serving different functionalities or mobile applications tailored to particular services.…”