Occupational Therapy-Based Dance Program for Children With ADHD

IREM CEYHAN36 enrolled

Overview

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that can affect children's attention, movement, balance, sensory processing, and self-esteem. These difficulties may interfere with participation in daily activities, school performance, and social interactions. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether an occupational therapy-based dance program can improve cognitive-motor performance, self-esteem, functional balance, and sensory processing in children with ADHD. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a structured 5-week occupational therapy-based dance program or a control group receiving no intervention during the study period. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized assessment tools. The study hypothesizes that children who participate in the occupational therapy-based dance program will demonstrate greater improvements in cognitive-motor performance, self-esteem, functional balance, and sensory processing than children in the control group.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Interventions

Occupational Therapy-Based Dance ProgramBEHAVIORAL

Participants received a structured occupational therapy-based dance program for 5 weeks, consisting of two 45-minute sessions per week (10 sessions in total). The intervention included rhythm- and movement-based activities designed to improve cognitive-motor performance, self-esteem, functional balance, and sensory processing. Sessions were conducted by an occupational therapist following a standardized intervention protocol.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 12 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 6 to 12 years. * Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to DSM-5 criteria by a qualified physician. * Ability to follow verbal instructions and participate in the intervention. * Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of neurological, orthopedic, visual, or hearing impairments that could affect participation. * Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or other major psychiatric disorders. * Participation in another structured rehabilitation or dance program during the study period. * Inability to complete the assessment procedures.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Cognitive-Motor Performance

Cognitive-motor performance assessed using the Praxis and Spatial Perception subdomains of the Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch).

Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention