Phonological working memory and auditory processing speed in children with specific language impairment

• Published in: Auditory and vestibular research Vol. 23; no. 6
• Main Authors: Fatemeh Haresabadi, Tahereh Sima Shirazi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 01.07.2017
• Subjects: auditory processing; children; language disorders; Specific language impairment; working memory
• ISSN: 2423-480X

Background and Aim: Specific language impairment (SLI), one variety of developmental language disorder, has attracted much interest in recent decades. Much research has been conducted to discover why some children have a specific language impairment. So far, research has failed to identify a reason for this linguistic deficiency. Some researchers believe language disorder causes defects in phonological working memory and affects auditory processing speed. Therefore, this study reviews the results of research investigating these two factors in children with specific language impairment. Recent Findings: Studies have shown that children with specific language impairment face constraints in phonological working memory capacity. Memory deficit is one possible cause of linguistic disorder in children with specific language impairment. However, in these children, disorder in information processing speed is observed, especially regarding the auditory aspect. Conclusion: Much more research is required to adequately explain the relationship between phonological working memory and auditory processing speed with language. However, given the role of phonological working memory and auditory processing speed in language acquisition, a focus should be placed on phonological working memory capacity and auditory processing speed in the assessment and treatment of children with a specific language impairment.