Empowering Exceptional Children

Empowering Exceptional Children

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy on Attention and Communication Skills in Children with Hearing Impairment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Meydanshahi 1
setare shojaee 2
1 M.A. in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2 Associate Professor of Exceptional Children Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
10.22034/ceciranj.2025.519702.1955
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral play therapy on attention and communication skills in children with hearing impairment. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test control group. The statistical population consisted of children aged 4 to 8 years with hearing impairment who were referred to auditory rehabilitation centers in Shiraz. From this population, 30 children were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The instruments used in this study included the Conners Parent Rating Scale (1998) and the Social Skills Rating System by Gresham and Elliott (1990). Following group assignment, a pre-test was administered to the parents of both groups. The experimental group then received cognitive behavioral play therapy intervention over eight sessions, each lasting between 30 to 45 minutes. Upon completion of the eighth session, a post-test was conducted with the parents of both groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24 and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) method. The findings indicated that the cognitive behavioral play therapy program significantly reduced attention deficits (P < 0.001) and led to a meaningful improvement in communication skills among children with hearing impairment. Based on the results, it can be concluded that cognitive behavioral play therapy may enhance attention and communication skills while reducing behavioral problems in children with hearing impairment. Therefore, it is recommended that this intervention be considered as a complementary approach alongside other rehabilitation programs in speech therapy clinics and rehabilitation centers.
Keywords
Attention
Cognitive Behavioral Approach
Communication Skills
Hearing Impairment
Play Therapy

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 28 March 2025
  • Revise Date 29 August 2025
  • Accept Date 31 August 2025