Single and Dual Task Gait Parameters in Children With Specific Learning Difficulties

Gait Parameters Under Single and Dual Task Conditions in Children With Specific Learning Difficulties: A Case-control Study

Children with spesific learning disorders have differences in motor and cognitive abilities compared to normal developing children.

Motor tasks as walking are not just have a motor components and also require a cognitive process to realize. Therefore cognitive abilities may effect motor performance.

In daily life, individuals perform dual or multitasks instead of single tasks naturally. Dual task is defined as the concurrent performance of two tasks that can be performed independently. Also dual tasks may be created from different tasks combinations such as a motor-motor dual task or motor-cognitive dual task.

Therefore, aim of the study is to compare gait parameters with healthy controls in single and dual task conditions in children with Special Learning Difficulties.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Gait; Specific Learning Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Walking asessments

Detailed Description

The fifth edition of the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) opted for a categorical approach that introduced the Specific Learning Difficulties. Accordingly, it is thought that specific learning difficulties include many characteristics such as genetic risk, environmental risk factors, developmental characteristics, comorbidity and cognitive weaknesses. According to DSM-5, Specific Learning Difficulties are difficulties in using learning and school skills, which last at least six months, and are characterized by the presence of at least one of the following symptoms, despite the necessary attempts:

1. Slowness and mistakes in reading words
2. Difficulties in reading comprehension
3. Problems with spelling
4. Written expression difficulties
5. Number perception and calculation problems experienced
6. Numerical reasoning problems. In the literature, there are explanations about many cognitive limitations in children with specific learning difficulties, such as information processing, perceptual motor skills, processing of visual stimuli, phonological approach and the theory of cerebellum disorder. All of these cognitive limitations can also affect the dual task performance of these children.

In daily life, individuals perform dual or multitasks instead of single tasks naturally. Dual task is defined as the concurrent performance of two tasks that can be performed independently. Also dual tasks may be created from different tasks combinations such as a motor-motor dual task or motor-cognitive dual task.

However, no study investigating the effect of specific learning difficulties on walking parameters in single and dual task conditions has been found. In the light of the information is obtained from the literature, the gait parameters of children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties in single and dual task conditions may differ from the healthy control group. Therefore, this study's primary goal is to compare gait parameters in single and dual task conditions in children with Special Learning Disabilities with healthy controls.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 50

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: EMEL TAŞVURAN HORATA, PhD; Phone Number: 05547759663; Email: ethorata@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, 03030
    • Recruiting
    • Afyonkarahisar Health Science University
    • Contact: EMEL TAŞVURAN HORATA, PhD; Phone Number: 05547759663; Email: ethorata@gmail.com
    • Principal Investigator: EMEL TAŞVURAN HORATA, PhD
    • Sub-Investigator: Yunus Emre KUNDAKCI, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The case group of children between the ages of 6-17 who has been diagnosed with Specific Learning Difficulty and who attends the Specific Learning Difficulty Support Education Program of the Ministry of National Education regularly twice a week; It is planned that a healthy children between the ages of 6-17 will form the control group.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Case Group

• To be in the age range of 6-17
• To have a diagnosis of special learning disability Control Group
• To be in the age range of 6-17
• To be physically, mentally and psychologically healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any acute or chronic orthopedic or neurological disease that may affect walking performance,
• Any surgery within the last 6 months,
• A hearing impairment that cannot be corrected with a hearing aid
• A visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Healthy Control Group; Walking Assessments will be practised under dual and single task conditions.	Other: Walking asessments; Gait parameters will be evaluated in single and dual task conditions with 10 Meter Walk Test and wireless digital miniature portable walking and movement analyzer.; Other Names: 10 meter walking Test
Case Group; Walking Assessments will be practised under dual and single task conditions.	Other: Walking asessments; Gait parameters will be evaluated in single and dual task conditions with 10 Meter Walk Test and wireless digital miniature portable walking and movement analyzer.; Other Names: 10 meter walking Test

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gait speed	The time it takes to walk a specified distance	15 minutes
Cadance	number of steps per minute	15 minutes
Strength length	It is the distance between points where the same heel touches the ground twice in a row.	15 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emel TAŞVURAN HORATA, PhD, Afyonkarahisar Health Science University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 2, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 25, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2022
• Last Verified: January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Communication Disorders; Learning Disabilities; Specific Learning Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020/333

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No