University of Padova, Italy.
University of Padova, Italy.
Res Dev Disabil. 2021 May;112:103919. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103919. Epub 2021 Mar 6.
Numeracy is an area of difficulty for children with Down syndrome (DS). It has been demonstrated that The Number Race, a non-commercial adaptive computer game designed to foster basic mathematical abilities, represents a promising instrument to enhance these skills in children with DS when delivered by an expert in a clinical setting.
In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of The Number Race when administered at home by properly instructed and remotely supervised parents.
Basic numerical skills were assessed before and after training, as well as at three-months follow-up. Performance of children with DS who worked at home with the parent (PG) was compared with that of children who received the training by an expert (EG). For both groups, the training lasted ten weeks, with two weekly sessions of 20-30 min.
Results show that both groups improved across various measures of numerical proficiency, including the overall score of the numeracy assessment battery, while only the EG showed an improvement in a measure of mental calculation. The improvements were maintained three months after the end of the training.
These findings confirm the efficacy of The Number Race and extend it to an home-based setting, whereby parents administer the training with external supervision.
计算能力是唐氏综合征（Down syndrome，DS）儿童的一个困难领域。已经证明，The Number Race 是一种非商业性的适应性计算机游戏，旨在培养基本的数学能力，当由临床专家在临床环境中提供时，它是增强 DS 儿童这些技能的有前途的工具。
在本研究中，我们评估了由经过适当指导和远程监督的父母在家中管理的 The Number Race 的效果。
在训练前后以及三个月的随访中评估基本的数值技能。在家中与父母一起工作的 DS 儿童（PG）的表现与接受专家培训的儿童（EG）进行了比较。对于两组，训练持续十周，每周两次，每次 20-30 分钟。
结果表明，两组在数值熟练程度的各种衡量标准上都有所提高，包括计算能力评估电池的总分，而只有 EG 在心理计算的衡量标准上有所提高。训练结束三个月后，这些改善仍然存在。
这些发现证实了 The Number Race 的有效性，并将其扩展到家庭环境中，父母可以在外部监督下进行培训。
