Phonological Working Memory in Normal Non Fluent Children

Normal non-fluency is one of the most common speech disorder with numerous complications in children. Hypotheses proposed for the causes of the disorder is working memory disfunction. This study was designed to examine phonological working memory function in these children and with hope to use its results in treatment. In this causal-comparative study, 30 normal non-fluent males (age 5 to 6 years) and 30 normal males, were assessed with standard tests including digit recall, word recall and non word repetition. After calculating scores of subjects in each of the three tests performed, in order to analyze data and compare the difference between the two groups, t test for comparison of independent groups and Mann-Whitney U was used. Results showed that boys with normal non-fluency, in the three test; digit recall (p<0.006), word recall (p<0.001) and non word repetition (p<0.000), had significantly lower gains than control group. Considering the results of this study and previous studies based on healthy of other indicators such as working memory and language aspects in these children as well as our results, motor and linguistic theories about stuttering and also possible based on normal non-fluency into the stuttering; can be said in some areas of the brain related to speech motor processes that comply with the phonological loop, have poor performance.