Center for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 22;11(1):2087. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78801-5.
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present reduced basic numerical skills, which have a negative impact on everyday numeracy and mathematical learning. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the adaptive (non-commercial) computerized game "The Number Race" in improving basic numerical skills in children with DS. The experimental group (EG; N = 30, M 118, range 70-149) completed a training playing with "The Number Race", whereas children in the control group (CG; N = 31, M 138, range 76-207) worked with software aiming at improving their reading skills. The training lasted 10 weeks with two weekly sessions of 20-30 min each. We assessed both groups' numerical and reading skills before and immediately after the end of the training, as well as at a 3-months follow-up. We found weak evidence for post-training groups differences in terms of overall numeracy score. However, the EG displayed substantial improvements in specific numerical skills and in mental calculation, which were maintained over time, and no improvement in reading. Conversely, the CG showed improvements in their reading skills as well as in number skills but to a lesser extent compared to the EG. Overall, "The Number Race" appears as a suitable tool to improve some aspects of numeracy in DS.
唐氏综合征（DS）患者的基本数值技能较差，这对日常计算和数学学习有负面影响。在这里，我们评估了适应性（非商业）计算机游戏“数字竞赛”在提高 DS 儿童基本数值技能方面的功效。实验组（EG；N=30，M 118，范围 70-149）通过玩“数字竞赛”进行训练，而对照组（CG；N=31，M 138，范围 76-207）则使用旨在提高阅读技能的软件进行训练。训练持续 10 周，每周两次，每次 20-30 分钟。我们在训练前后以及 3 个月随访时评估了两组的数值和阅读技能。我们发现，在整体计算成绩方面，训练后两组之间的差异只有微弱的证据。然而，EG 在特定的数值技能和心算方面表现出了实质性的提高，并且这些提高能够持续，而阅读方面没有提高。相反，CG 在阅读技能以及数字技能方面都有所提高，但与 EG 相比程度较小。总的来说，“数字竞赛”似乎是一种提高 DS 患者数值计算能力的合适工具。
