TY  - UNPB
ID  - discovery1553334
N2  - Executive Functions (EFs) include cognitive processes such as attention,
problem solving, inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory. EFs develop
throughout childhood and into early adulthood, and are essential for school readiness
and success. The significant role of EFs in academic achievement and beyond brings
to light the distinct disadvantage of children who experience EF deficits. Deaf children,
like some other groups with atypical development, have been found to have delays in
EF development, particularly in planning, problem solving, and inhibition.
This thesis reports the findings from two studies investigating EF in two groups
of deaf participants. The first study explores the EF skills of a unique group ? deaf
musicians. This study compares the EF skills of deaf and hearing adult musicians with
deaf and hearing non-musicians. The results reveal similarities in the EF profiles of
deaf and hearing musicians, adding to the current debate in the literature about the
impact of musicianship on EF skills and the underlying mechanisms that drive gains
in EF through music.
The second study, which is the main focus of the thesis, describes a musicbased
EF intervention carried out with deaf children in three London mainstream
primary schools. It covers the design and implementation of the intervention, what
effect the intervention had on children?s EF (in particular, the significant impact found
on children?s working memory and inhibition skills), the implications of the findings
for existing models of EF, and the potential for using musical training to improve deaf
children?s EF skills.
Results from both studies indicate that music-based EF training may be a
valuable tool for improving EF skills in deaf individuals and highlights the need for
further investigation into the relationship between music and EF within the deaf
population.
PB  - UCL (University College London)
UR  - https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1553334/
M1  - Doctoral
KW  - Deafness
KW  -  Executive Function
KW  -  Intervention
KW  -  Music
A1  - Mason, KC
TI  - Executive Function In Deaf Children: An Intervention Study
EP  - 298
Y1  - 2017/04/28/
AV  - public
N1  - Unpublished
ER  -