Tablets and Executive Functions: A study on Specific Learning Disabilities
Silvia Di Vara, Andrea Biancardi
There are many existing papers which show how children with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) experience certain difficulties when they are subjected to tasks that involve executive functions. In this study, we decided to administer these tasks using a tablet, a tool which young people know well, and which has a simpler and more intuitive interface then a computer or activities requiring the use of pen and paper.For this research, after a preliminary check of what is available on the market, the application for tablets called Brain Tweak© was chosen, which contains five tasks involving attention, working memory, planning and processing speed.Analyses show that the differences emerging are statistically significant, particularly when trials involve numerical acuity skills and the comparison of complex stimuli. Children with SLD were less rapid while performing each task compared to children with typical development. Moreover, an improvement in processing speed in every task for the latter group was noted and this is correlated to an increase in age.
Keywords
SLD, tablets, Executive Functions, dyslexia.