Telerehabilitation Pathways in Specific Learning Disorders: Improving Reading and Writing

Abstract

Telerehabilitation has proved to be a useful tool for neurodevelopmental disorders in allowing timely and intensive intervention and preventing relapses; it is also widely used for specific learning disabilities (SLD), showing significant effects on reading abilities, but variables linked to its effectiveness have not been studied yet. The present study was aimed at testing the effectiveness of telerehabilitation on reading and writing in SLD children, comparing different treatment pathways, and considering the impact of training intensity and executive functions. Seventy-three children were enrolled (telerehabilitation group: 48 children, waiting list group: 25 children). The results showed significant improvements in reading fluency, text dictation, and executive functions in the training group. Children attending a combined training including reading tasks and rapid automatized naming processes improved in word reading fluency and text dictation. The number of training sessions and the change in executive functions significantly correlated with changes in reading accuracy. Here we show a new contribution to telerehabilitation research in SLD: telerehabilitation significantly enhanced learning abilities and executive functions. Training based on the learning task and the underlying processes significantly increased not only reading speed, according to previous studies, but also writing accuracy. The findings’ implications in clinical research and practice are discussed.

Enhancing Selective Attention in Children with Learning Disorders: Efficacy of Executive Functions Training

“…This aspect of cognitive training is especially significant in mitigating the adverse effects of learning disorders on a E-ISSN: 3041-9026 child's academic and social development. Moreover, the combination of specific skill training with executive functions, as evidenced by Capodieci et al (2023), presents a promising approach to enhancing cognitive skills in children with SLD (Capodieci et al, 2023).…”

“…These cognitive processes, which include skills such as planning, flexibility, inhibitory control, and particularly selective attention, play a pivotal role in enabling children to focus, process information effectively, and engage in goal-directed behavior. Within the context of specific learning disorders (SLD), challenges in executive functions can significantly impact a child's learning capabilities, affecting their ability to concentrate, remember instructions, and switch between tasks efficiently (Capodieci et al, 2023;Pirabasi & Safarzadeh, 2018). Given the profound influence of executive functions on academic and social outcomes, interventions aimed at enhancing these skills in children with SLD have garnered considerable attention in recent educational and psychological research.…”

“…Moreover, the integration of specific skill training with executive function enhancement strategies has been identified as an effective approach for supporting children with SLD (Capodieci et al, 2023). This combined approach allows for a more holistic intervention that not only targets the core deficits associated with learning disorders but also strengthens the underlying cognitive processes essential for learning and adaptation.…”

Impact of AI-Powered Solutions in Rehabilitation Process: Recent Improvements and Future Trends

“…Telerehabilitation can improve cognitive functioning in patients with learning disabilities and promote healthcare at home. This study 97 tested the usability of telerehabilitation on reading and writing in children with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). Results indicate notable improvements in executive functions, text dictation, and reading fluency in the telerehabilitation group.…”