Training the rehearsal strategy in Down syndrome and normal children. Effects on memory span, word-length and phonological similarity effect

Verbal short-term memory skills of Down's syndrome subjects are very poor. As in normal children, it seems possible to increase memory span by using a rehearsal training strategy. Memory span tasks have been proposed to two experimental groups (Down's syndrome subjects / normally developping children) and two control groups (Down's syndrome subjects / normally developping children). The experimental groups were intensively trained to rehearse during 8 weeks. Two post-tests were proposed to the subjects: 1] directly after the training session and 2] six weeks after the training session. We observe an increase of the experimental groups' memory span. The weak modifications of word-length effect and phonological similarity effect seem to confirm that these effects are not due to the rehearsal strategy use.