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The link between working memory and reading for deaf adults
What is it about?
Working memory is essential for reading, but its specific role in deaf adults has been unclear.This study shows that deaf adults' visual word recognition relies more heavily on working memory compared to their hearing peers. Using a dual-task experiment—where participants performed a memory task while recognizing words—we found that the reading speed of deaf adults was significantly more impacted. This demonstrates that both verbal and visuospatial working memory play a crucial supporting role in the reading process for deaf adults.
Why is it important?
While it is known that working memory is linked to reading ability, most evidence has been correlational, simply showing that the two are related. Our study moves beyond this by using a dual-task experiment to demonstrate a direct, real-time reliance on working memory during the act of reading for deaf adults. We provide causal evidence showing that the process of recognizing words actively taxes the working memory systems of deaf individuals far more than their hearing peers. Furthermore, we show that this heavy reliance is not limited to one type of memory, as both verbal and visuospatial working memory are crucial. This distinction is important because it shifts the understanding from a simple association to a dynamic, moment-to-moment cognitive process, and these findings can help educators and clinicians develop better strategies to support reading comprehension by managing cognitive load for deaf learners.