Abstract
Introduction
Attention refers to being able to focus on a specific task without being distracted. It is different from simply being alert, because alertness refers to basic arousal. An alert person is simply awake. An alert but inattentive person will be attracted to any novel stimulus in the environment, but will not be able to screen out irrelevant stimuli. The ability to sustain attention over time (vigilance) must be present before more complex functions like learning can be evaluated. Adolescence is the transition phase between childhood and adulthood, from chronological age 10 to 19. Adolescents experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth. In this period, they are highly vulnerable population to biological, social and environmental perturbations. This affects how they feel, think, make decisions, and interact with the world around them. Poor attention in adolescents can be detrimental to their academic performance. Hence, this study, aiming at importance of attention span, gave Opportunities through some occupational therapy activities to develop their educational skills by sustaining their attention.
Aim & Objective of the study
The study aims to assess the adolescent age group students, in mainstream (school) education,with valid questionnaire, on attention span. This would enhance identifying those suffering with reduced attention span.
The objectives are
? To apply SNAP-IV assessment for first level screening of attention span
? To apply Vanderbilt assessment, for classifying them into categories of attention problem
? To list out, students, as per their class schedules, into activity session of Occupational therapy
? After activity sessions, to do post therapy assessment, find out whether the selected activities (OT) were helpful in enhancing attention.
Method of study
Study design
Simple random sampling was applied as it is an experimental study
Study setting & duration
Around Chidambaram town, students were selected. With proper obtained consent from authorities, Participants involved, for duration of two months study was conducted in the following schools.
Rani seethai achi higher secondary school, Sr. Ramakrishna Vidhayala Higher Secondary School, Ramasamy chettiar's town higher secondary school
Selection criteria
Children studying 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, & 11th of age 12 to 17 years
Both Male and Female gender were included for the study
10th and 12th std students were excluded in this study.
Data analysis & Result
It is seen from the table that majority of respondents belong to 15-16 years of age group. Moreover, 76.8% of respondents are male from all the three selected schools of Chidambaram, and 23.2% of them are female, who were having attention problems.
DISCUSSION
This study, Enhancement of Attention in Adolescents through Occupational Therapy activities was done in mainstream school children in & around Chidambaram. In the study identification of poor attention was done by B.Ed trainees students of Annamalai University. They were described about the project, by utilising proper permission from HOD of Education department. Using SNAP-IV for the assessment, trainees screened 200 Students. Among the 200 students, diagnosed, with Vanderbilt assessment sub scale, 56 students showed exact problems with ATTENTION. With appropriate permission from schools headmasters and headmistress three session of occupational therapy activities was conducted per week. Before participation in Occupational therapy activities, they were taken the pre-test value with Vanderbilt assessment. Post-test assessment showed the selected activities enhance attention in selected sample.
CONCLUSION
Although many questionnaires are designed for parents and teachers for ADHD like conditions, the students studying in mainstream education are less identified with their existing learning problems. Two standardized tools used in this study, helped easy identification & sorting down learning problems. The students with the authorities at schools were also cooperative, inspite of their routine school academics. Through Occupational Therapy activities, they found an improvement in their attention, thereby in their studies. As the schools were having exams, post therapy was conducted in one month & it showed notable changes in Vanderbilt pre & post therapy score.
Adolescent neurodevelopment Journal of Health (2013) also mentions that brain continues to refine, undergo important morphological and functional transformations during adolescence period. A lot of other internal- and external factors might affect the attention span. With ability to sustain attention on a task, focused attention, multitasking ability, Concentration, ability to recall, retain and elicit information (short term & long term memory) develops. If a person can't concentrate long enough on the information available, it is impossible to correctly recall or learn subjects at school. Thus attention is basic requirement in learning. In adolescent student's reasons for developing inattention, enhancing attention through Occupational Therapy is effectively framed in this study. Occupational therapy programs can also help students enhance school education is thus proved in the study.
IJCRT's Publication Details
Unique Identification Number - IJCRT2307737
Paper ID - 241737
Page Number(s) - g246-g256
Pubished in - Volume 11 | Issue 7 | July 2023
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) -   
Publisher Name - IJCRT | www.ijcrt.org | ISSN : 2320-2882
E-ISSN Number - 2320-2882