Working memory functioning in children with specific developmental language disorders

This study examined the functioning of working memory in children with specific developmental language disorders. The performance of the three components of working memory in the model of Baddeley and Hitch (1974) were evaluated, which are the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad, and the central executive. The sample consisted of 40 children aged between 6 and 7 years, half of whom were children with specific developmental language disorders, and the other half were normal children. Five tests were used to assess the components of working memory, which are forward digit span, Corsi block task, pattern task, backward digit span, and backward Corsi block task. The results of this study revealed that children with specific developmental language disorders show a deficit in the ability of the phonological loop and a preservation in the ability of the visuo-spatial sketchpad, additionally we found that the capacity of the central executive, in children with specific developmental language disorders is less than that of their peers in complex verbal tasks, while the performance of the two groups was similar in complex visuo-spatial tasks. In general, the results of this study showed that working memory deficit in children with specific developmental language disorders is not global.