ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a tablet-based cognitive evaluation for children with developmental disabilities and to compare the profile of cognitive function according to the diagnostic groups. Methods: A total of 80 children participated in this study (24 with Autism Spectrum Disorder; ASD, 20 with an Intellectual Disability; ID, 7 with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD, and 29 with Typical Development; TD). A tablet-based cognitive evaluation was developed, which consists of 8 items according to the cognitive domains. Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to compare the mean differences according to the groups, and Jamovi 1.6.23 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The total scores of the children among the diagnostic groups were significantly different from those of children with TD (x2 = 22.41, p < .001). The children with ASD showed significant deficits in visual global and local processing and inhibition. In addition, children with ID showed significant deficits in working memory span, visual working memory, and reaction inhibition and attention. By contrast, in children with ADHD, there were no items with statistically significant differences compared to children with TD. Conclusion: The tablet-based cognitive evaluation developed in this study was found to be useful in differentiating the cognitive functions between children with TD and those with developmental disabilities.