Prevalence of Learning Difficulties in school children and effect of Physical Activity on their Academic Performance

Prevalence of Learning Difficulties in School children and effect of Physical Activity on their Academic Performance.

Submitted by: Dr Payal Mehta

Supervised by: Dr Neeta Vyas

Name and Address of Work place: SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat Bhesan road, Surat

Background: A Learning Difficulty refers to  a difficulty in learning that’s more specificand not global. Conditions like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphiaare all considered ‘Learning Difficulties’, they wouldn’t normally affect a person’s overall intelligence. Very few studies show effect of Physical Activity on Academic Performance of these children.

Aim: To find out the Prevalence of Learning Difficulties in school children in Surat(South Gujarat) and give them Core muscle exercises to see effect on their Academic Performance.

Methods: Phase I- Prevalence study. Find out number of school students(age 9 to 13 years) with Learning Difficulties by Learning Difficulties Screening Tool

Phase II- Interventional study. School exam results of the screened children will be assessed. These children will be divided equally into 2 groups by Odd Even method. One group will receive conventional physical activity while the other group will receive Core muscle exercises for 6 weeks. Again school results will be assessed (Standardized Achievement Test)

Possible Outcomes: School exam results(Standardized Achievement Test)

Keywords: Learning Difficulties, Physical Activity, core muscle exercises, School children