The Effect of Dual Task on Manual Skill Performance in Children and Adolescents

In the literature, balance or walking postural tasks are mostly used in dual-task studies for typically developing children. However, dual task tasks performed during manual skills in daily life have not been adequately researched. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of dual-task conditions on manual dexterity performance in typically developing young people and children between the ages of 7-18. Although studies on this subject are limited in the world, a comprehensive study is needed on children and young people in our country.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

• Demographic information, dominant extremity will be noted and the evaluation will begin by applying the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children.
• The evaluations will primarily evaluate the child's performance on a single cognitive task in a supported sitting position on a chair, without a motor task. The cognitive task will be the n-back task (counting down task) to be applied in accordance with the level of the child or young person.
• Using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), participants will be asked to score the difficulty of the cognitive task as a number between 0 and 10.
• In order to evaluate the single motor performance of manual skills, the 9-Hole Test will be applied and the times will be recorded by asking to write a given paragraph.
• Dual task evaluations will be administered by giving a simultaneous cognitive task while administering the 9-Hole Test and writing a paragraph.
• In order to reveal the dual-task cost (DTC), dual-task performance will be subtracted from single-task performance and the difference will be calculated in seconds.

As a result of this study, manual dexterity performance and cognitive performance in single-task conditions in typically developing children and adolescents will be revealed. Additionally, changes in this performance will be detected in dual-task situations.