The Effects of Creative Dance Therapy on Motor and Executive Functions in Children With Dyslexia

Although some benefits of dance have been described for motor and cognitive skills, the effects on individuals with dyslexia are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of creative dance training on the motor and executive skills of children with dyslexia. The randomized controlled trial was conducted between August 2019 and December 2020 in the Occupational Therapy Department of Hacettepe University. The sample consisted of 51 children with dyslexia aged 8-10 years. While 26 of the participants received routine literacy training, the other 25 also received creative dance training three times a week for 4 weeks. Motor functions were assessed using the "Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Competence 2 Test- Short Form", and executive functions were assessedusing the "Executive Function and Occupational Routines Scale".