"Children with learning disorders are often very frustrated and don't believe in their abilities enough. That's why they frequently lack the motivation to practise and learn," explains Manuel Ninaus. In his study, which was published in the journal "Mind, Brain and Education", he investigated the best way to present them with exercises so that they enjoy doing them. The seven to 15-year-old test subjects with diagnosed learning difficulties had to complete estimation tasks on the number line in three versions: mark the correct position on the paper with a pencil, use the computer keyboard to move a white bar accordingly and control a dog to the required position in a video game.
"The test subjects felt most comfortable and competent with the latter version," summarises the psychologist. He concludes that training should be supplemented with playful elements wherever possible. "The design alone gives the children a sense of security and motivates them to continue. This can provide great added value." However, it is essential that developers work together with therapists and brain researchers when designing the exercises. "It must be ensured that the pupils can process the learning content from the video game well and are not overwhelmed by too many sensory impressions," Ninaus explains. Otherwise they would be distracted from the actual question and achieve poorer results.
In Austria, an average of one child per compulsory school class suffers from dyscalculia. The deficit affects the categorisation of numerical quantities and basic arithmetic operations. The disorder is often accompanied by other weaknesses. Therapies and targeted support make it easier to deal with the impairment and protect against secondary illnesses.