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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Using visual strategies to support verbal comprehension in an adolescent with Down syndrome
Jean-françois LecasArnaud ReyAnne-marie MazaudEsther Reibelsubject
Linguistics and LanguageVisual perceptionShort-term memory[ SCCO.PSYC ] Cognitive science/Psychologybehavioral disciplines and activities050105 experimental psychologyLanguage and LinguisticsEducationDevelopmental psychology03 medical and health sciencesSpeech and Hearing0302 clinical medicineVisual memoryDevelopmental and Educational Psychology0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesCalifornia Verbal Learning TestWorking memory05 social sciencesCognitionComprehensionClinical Psychology[SCCO.PSYC]Cognitive science/PsychologyVerbal memoryPsychology030217 neurology & neurosurgeryCognitive psychologydescription
International audience; It has been frequently reported that children with Down syndrome have deficits in verbal short-term memory while having relatively good performance in visual short-term memory tasks. Such verbal deficits have a detrimental effect on various high-level cognitive processes, most notably language comprehension. In this study, we report the case of an adolescent with Down syndrome whose verbal short-term memory and comprehension capacities are impaired. Noting that his visual memory remained relatively well preserved, we developed a remediation strategy based on his visual abilities to support his verbal memory deficit. This remediation led to significant improvements in verbal short-term memories of story and thematic units as well as in overall story comprehension. These results are consistent with recent findings suggesting that deficits in verbal short-term memory can be compensated by efficient visual memory abilities.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-02-01 |