Evaluation Of The Impact Of The Phonological Loop On Attentional Control In Deaf Children With Cochlear Implants Attending Primary School

Abstract

The interest of the present study is to understand the impact that the phonological loop could have on attentional control in deaf children with cochlear implants. We selected two groups, each composed of 20 children. The first group is made up of hearing children, the second group of children with cochlear implants, all of whom are enrolled in primary education. We subjected both groups to tests of working memory in its phonological loop aspect, as well as the STROOP attentional control test. The results of the comparison of the average scores show an inferiority in terms of scores relating to the phonological loop for group 1 with much higher scores in terms of interference. The correlation study of the scores of group2 shows a strong correlation proportionally inverse to the interference scores. The limited capacity of the phonological loop would explain attentional control below the norm. The nature of fairly automated language in these children seems to explain these results.