Working memory, short-term memory, and speech rate as predictors of children's reading performance at different ages

This study explored the contribution of 2 working memory (WM) systems (the phonological loop and the central executive) to reading performance in youn ger (9-year-old) and older (14-year-old) children. The results showed that (a) significant age-related differences in verbal and visual-spatial WM per formance were maintained when articulation speed and short-term memory (the phonological system) were partialed from the analysis and (b) WM predicted age-related differences in word recognition and comprehension performance independent of the contribution of a short-term memory and articulatory rat e. The results were interpreted as support for the notion that both the pho nological and the executive systems are important predictors of age-related changes in reading but that these processes operate independent of each ot her in predicting fluent reading. Several implications of the results are d iscussed.