Sustained benefits of cognitive training in children with inattention, three-year follow-up.

Barbora G Jurigova,Molly R Gerdes,Elysa J Marco,Joaquin A Anguera,Celestino Rodríguez

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0246449

Barbora G Jurigova, Molly R Gerdes + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246449

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Abstract

The goal of this study was to test for long-term benefits three years after the completion of a cognitive training intervention (Project: EVO™) in a subset of children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction (SPD). Our initial findings revealed that children with SPD who also met research criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (SPD+IA) showed a significant decrease in parent-observed inattentive behaviors, which remained stable in a nine-month follow-up assessment. Forty nine caregivers of participants who completed the Project: EVO™ training were contacted to be included in this follow up study. Each was emailed an invitation to complete the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale, which yielded a completion rate of 39/49 (80%). A Generalized Estimating Equations analysis was used to assess changes in symptoms over time, specifically to determine whether the initial improvements were retained. The SPD+IA cohort continued to show sustained benefits on their parent-reported scores of inattention, with 54% of SPD+IA individuals no longer meeting criteria for ADHD three years following intervention. These findings provide initial insights into the potential long-term benefits of a digital health intervention for children with attention-based issues.

Highlights

Sensory Processing Dysfunction (SPD), expressed as exaggerated aversive, withdrawal, or seeking behaviors associated with sensory inputs [1], affects almost five percent of all children [2]
Results of the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis performed on the Vanderbilt Inattention scores collected at 4 time points: baseline, post intervention (POST), 9-month follow-up (9M), and 3-year follow-up (3Y)
Inattention scores of the typically developing children (TDC) group at the 3-year follow-up changed from baseline by approximately -6.59 + 4.84 = -1.75 points, which was a significantly smaller decrease in symptoms compared to the one seen in children in the SPD+IA group (p = .000445)

Summary

Introduction

Sensory Processing Dysfunction (SPD), expressed as exaggerated aversive, withdrawal, or seeking behaviors associated with sensory inputs [1], affects almost five percent of all children [2]. Even though SPD is categorized as atypical responses to sensory input, many of those affected exhibit attentional challenges [1, 3] These findings suggested that a robust assessment and subsequent intervention of these deficient cognitive abilities may be warranted in this particular population. Research along these lines from our group has demonstrated that compared to their typically developing peers, approximately 40% children with SPD demonstrate diminished cognitive control (selective attention in particular) as well as visuomotor control—abilities crucial to academic achievement and social development [4, 5]. These individuals show decreased white matter microstructural integrity that correlated

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