Working Memory and Auditory Processing in School-Age Children

Abstract

Our goal is to present the relationships between working memory (WM) and auditory processing abilities in school-age children. We begin with an overview of auditory processing, the conceptualization of auditory processing disorder, and the assessment of auditory processing abilities in children. Next, we describe a model of WM and a model of auditory processing followed by their comparison. Evidence for the relationships between WM and auditory processing abilities in school-age children follows. Specifically, we present evidence for the association (or lack thereof) between WM/attention and auditory processing test performance. In conclusion, we describe a new framework for understanding auditory processing abilities in children based on integrated evidence from cognitive science, hearing science, and language science. We also discuss clinical implications in children that could inform future research.