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Short-term memory in children with sickle cell disease: executive versus modality-specific processing deficits

Jeffrey Schatz1, Carla W Roberts

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. schatz@sc.edu

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology : the Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists
|September 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may experience specific short-term memory deficits, particularly in auditory processing. This impacts backward digit span tasks, suggesting modality-specific challenges in cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropsychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with cognitive deficits in children.
  • Previous research indicates impairments in memory span and working memory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate short-term memory span and working memory in children with SCD.
  • To identify specific cognitive deficits and their potential underlying causes.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 25 children with SCD to 25 demographically matched controls.
  • Utilized digit span, spatial span, and self-ordered pointing tests.
  • Administered additional cognitive tests to assess auditory processing.

Main Results:

  • Children with SCD demonstrated significant difficulties only in backward digit span performance.
  • Auditory processing deficits were identified as a factor related to backward digit span performance.
  • Findings suggest modality-specific short-term memory deficits in children with SCD.

Conclusions:

  • Modality-specific deficits, particularly in auditory processing, contribute to short-term memory span issues in children with SCD.
  • The exact cause remains unclear but may involve central and peripheral auditory processing.
  • Further research is needed to understand the etiology of these auditory processing deficits.

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