A subgroup analysis of working memory in children with reading disabilities: domain-general or domain-specific deficiency?

Exploring hypotheses about phonological awareness, memory, and reading achievement

Reading-related skills were tested in adults with and without reading disabilities (RD) and adults with profound hearing impairment (PHI) who did not differ on average Performance IQ. The RD group and the PHI group both demonstrated levels of phonological awareness lower than the control group's, but only the RD group also exhibited deficits in other skills, including verbal short-term memory, morphological awareness, speeded written naming, and reading comprehension. The average reading level of the PHI group was significantly higher than that of the RD group. Three control group members also demonstrated limited phonological awareness without other deficits in a pilot study, performing similarly to the PHI group. The results support other studies suggesting that processes dependent on memory, not solely phonological awareness, may contribute to determining reading achievement.