Visual Attention and Math Performance in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Arch Clin Neuropsychol
; 33(8): 1015-1023, 2018 Dec 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29373636
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Attentional and academic difficulties, particularly in math, are common in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Of cognitive deficits experienced by survivors of childhood ALL, attention deficits may be particularly responsive to intervention. However, it is unknown whether deficits in particular aspects of attention are associated with deficits in math skills. The current study investigated relationships between math calculation skills, performance on an objective measure of sustained attention, and parent- and teacher-reported attention difficulties.METHOD:
Twenty-four survivors of childhood ALL (Mage = 13.5 years, SD = 2.8 years) completed a computerized measure of sustained attention and response control and a written measure of math calculation skills in the context of a comprehensive clinical neuropsychological evaluation. Parent and teacher ratings of inattention and impulsivity were obtained.RESULTS:
Visual response control and visual attention accounted for 26.4% of the variance observed among math performance scores after controlling for IQ (p < .05). Teacher-rated, but not parent-rated, inattention was significantly negatively correlated with math calculation scores.CONCLUSIONS:
Consistency of responses to visual stimuli on a computerized measure of attention is a unique predictor of variance in math performance among survivors of childhood ALL. Objective testing of visual response control, rather than parent-rated attentional problems, may have clinical utility in identifying ALL survivors at risk for math difficulties.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Photic Stimulation
/
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
/
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
/
Cognitive Dysfunction
/
Mathematics
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Arch Clin Neuropsychol
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States