Investigating attentional abilities in children with special needs: A review of current researches

Attention is a multifaceted cognitive process that plays a vital role in learning, social interaction, and daily functioning. Children with special needs, including those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disabilities (LD), and other neurodevelopmental disorders, often exhibit difficulties with attention. These attentional difficulties can significantly impact academic achievement, social relationships, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current research on attention in children with special needs, highlighting the complexities and heterogeneities of attentional abilities within and across diagnostic groups. We examine the various aspects of attention, including sustained attention, selective attention, attention switching, and attentional control, and discuss how these components are affected in children with different special needs. The review also explores the impact of attentional difficulties on academic, social, and emotional development in children with special needs. We discuss how attentional challenges can lead to difficulties with learning, social interactions, and emotional regulation and how these challenges can be compounded by co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, sensory processing difficulties, and executive function deficits. Furthermore, we evaluate the efficacy of current interventions and assessments for attention in children with special needs, including pharmacological interventions, behavioural therapies, cognitive training programs, and assistive technology. We also identify gaps in the literature and propose future research directions to advance our understanding of attention in children with special needs.