Enhancing learning capacity and academic outcomes using novel game technology in primary school children with developmental disabilities

The ability to concentrate and stay focused on a task, to switch attention between tasks, to inhibit impulsive responding, and to mentally hold and use information are critical skills for learning and academic outcomes. The development of these skills is especially important for children with developmental delay, estimated at 650,000 (approximately 3% of the population). We propose to translate an attention training program into an interactive portable computer game format for delivering interventions in a way that allows open access for families and educators in rural and urban districts. Improvements in inattentive behaviours in the classroom and home as well as improvements in literacy and numeracy are anticipated outcomes.