Verbal and visual-spatial memory in Chinese children with developmental dyslexia

Abstract:

Objective To explore the abilities of verbal and visual-spatial memory in Chinese children with developmental dyslexia. Methods Thirty-two children with developmental dyslexia (aged 8-12 years) and thirty-nine age-and gender-matched normal children were involved in the study. Their verbal short-term and verbal working memories were measured using the digit ordering and the digit span tests, respectively. Their visual-spatial short-term and visual-spatial working memories were examined using the forward and backward block-tapping tests, respectively. Results The DD children scored lower in the digit ordering and the digit span tests than the control children (P < 0.05). The scores for the forward and backward block-tapping tests did not vary between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions The children with DD have the deficits in both verbal short-term memory and verbal working memory.