ERIC Number: EJ791348
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 12
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2194
EISSN: N/A
Working Memory and Learning in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and Specific Language Impairment
Alloway, Tracy Packiam; Archibald, Lisa
Journal of Learning Disabilities, v41 n3 p251-262 2008
The authors compared 6- to 11-year-olds with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and those with specific language impairment (SLI) on measures of memory (verbal and visuospatial short-term and working memory) and learning (reading and mathematics). Children with DCD with typical language skills were impaired in all four areas of memory function for their age level, and this pattern was also found to be characteristic of a larger DCD group with varied language abilities. SLI-group deficits in standard scores were observed for the verbal versions of the short-term and working memory tasks only. There were also differential links between memory and attainment between the two groups, with visuospatial working memory strongly related to numeracy in the SLI group and all of the memory measures correlated with at least one attainment measure in the DCD group. Reasons for why working memory contributes to learning in these two developmental groups are discussed. (Contains 3 tables and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Language Impairments, Memory, Language Skills, Psychomotor Skills, Disabilities, Measures (Individuals), Comparative Analysis, Visual Perception, Spatial Ability, Verbal Ability, Task Analysis, Correlation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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