Comparison of Executive Functions of Mathematical Learning Disabled Children with Reading, Writing Learning Disabled and Normal Children

Aim:Educational problems and especially the particular problems of learning in children have attracted much attention. One of the aspects to consider is the neuropsychological characteristics of these children.The aim of this study was to study the neuropsychological functions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (cognitive flexibility, perseveration, time, first pattern efforts) in children with mathematical learning disabilities and compare them with normal children and children with other types of Learning disabilities. For do this, using convenience, four groups of children (a group of normal students and three groups of students with mathematical, reading and writing learning disabilities), using purposeful sampling, were selected from children referred to the Children's Learning Center with special learning problems. The WCST test software was applied to the sample groups and the results were analyzed using MANOVA. Findings: The results showed that children with normal and mathematical disorder had a significant difference in cognitive flexibility, perseveration and effort for the first pattern. Also, children with special disabilities in mathematic had as much children with reading disabilities as dysfunction, but the two groups showed more dysfunction than children with a disability.
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the profile of the executive function of students with mathematical learning disability is different from the children with writing disability and normal children, but it similar with reading disabled children.