Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to provide information on whether improvements in language skills might be achieved by improving working memory capacity in cochlear-implanted children.Patients and MethodsThis study was carried out on 30 prelingual cochlear-implanted children at the Hearing and Speech Institute. They were divided into two groups: group I received communicative therapy plus a working memory training program. Group II received communicative therapy only. Post-therapy evaluation was carried out after 6 months using the Modified Preschool Language Scale-4 for assessing language and the working memory subtests measures of the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale ‘5th Arabic version‘ for the assessment of working memory.ResultsThe results of this study showed an improvement in verbal working memory capacity, nonverbal working memory capacity, and the total working memory in the group of children with cochlear implants (CIs) who received 6 months of a working memory training program in addition to communicative therapy. The findings indicate that there is an improvement in the verbal and nonverbal working memory in the participants following the training on certain tasks in the computer-based working memory training program. This will lead to an improvement in the language skills as well.ConclusionWorking memory training may improve some memory and language skills for children with CIs. As a result, interventions specifically designed to address the basic underlying verbal working memory deficits of children with CIs may be expected to have wide-ranging effects that generalize well beyond the trained working memory tasks and stimuli themselves and show transfer to nontrained language perception and memory tasks.
Highlights
Working memory is very important in every one’s life, especially in communication skills
The aim of this study is to provide information on whether an improvement in language skills might be achieved by improving working memory capacity in cochlear-implanted children to consider working memory training when planning habilitation programs for cochlear implants (CIs) children
Working memory is crucial for speech and language development, and growth in working memory skills is closely linked to an improvement in language skills [2]
Summary
Working memory is very important in every one’s life, especially in communication skills. It maintains and manipulates information in the mind for a brief period of time [1]. It is vital for storing short-term information, words, and meanings [2]. Auditory deprivation before cochlear implantation can lead to auditory processing deficiency in particular, a deficiency in auditory sequential short-term memory [3]. A period of poor or no access to sound may affect the neural organization and plasticity of brain systems, such as working memory, processing, executive control, attention, and learning
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