A comparative study of rapid naming and working memory as predictors of word recognition and reading comprehension in relation to phonological awareness in Iranian dyslexic and normal children

The present study investigated additional deficits beyond the documented problems of phonological processing in developmental dyslexia, concerning possible perceptual–motor automaticity and working memory (WM) ability. The participants consisted of 30 normal and 30 dyslexic children. A battery of intelligence, psychopathology, RAN-digit, short term memory (STM) and WM were administered to both groups, in addition to phonological ability and reading comprehension tests. Dyslexic children obtained significantly lower phonological awareness, RAN-digit speed, STM and WM scores. Working memory but not RANdigit predicted reading ability beyond phonological awareness. The findings are discussed based on the existing heterogeneity within dyslexia.