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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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: Slowness and mistakes in reading words Difficulties in reading comprehension Problems with spelling Written expression difficulties Number perception and calculation problems experienced 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.

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

Conditions
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Specific Learning Disorder, Gait

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Walking asessments


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Healthy Control Group<br>Walking Assessments will be practised under dual and single task conditions. | Other: Walking asessments<br>* 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.<br>* Other names: 10 meter walking Test;|
| Case Group<br>Walking Assessments will be practised under dual and single task conditions. | Other: Walking asessments<br>* 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.<br>* Other names: 10 meter walking Test;|

What is the study measuring?
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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 |