Do Temporal Processing Deficits Cause Phonological Processing Problems?

This study tested the hypothesis that temporal processing deficits underlie phonological processing problems. The subjects were children aged 8 to 10 years (N=110) who were separated into 2 groups on the basis of whether their reading scores were normal or poor. As predicted by many earlier studies, children with poor reading scores demonstrate poor abilities on tests of phonological awareness, as well as on 2 other language tasks that depend on phonological processing. Two specific tests of the temporal processing hypothesis were conducted. Children in both groups were tested (a) on their abilities to recall sequences of nonspeech tones presented at various rates and (b) on their abilities to make phonetic decisions using brief and transitional properties of the speech signal, especially formant transitions (the purported "trouble spot" in the speech signal for children with phonological processing problems). The children with poor phonological processing abilities showed no special difficulty recalling rapidly presented nonspeech stimuli, and, in their phonetic decisions, they were able to use brief and transitional signal properties, including formant transitions, at least as well as other children. Therefore, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that temporal processing deficits cause phonological processing problems.

KEY WORDS: temporal processing deficits, phonological processing problems, speech perception

Submitted on August 12, 1998
Accepted on January 28, 1999

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. M. Zettler, R. A. Sevcik, R. D. Morris, and M. G. Clarkson Comodulation Masking Release (CMR) in Children and the Influence of Reading Status J Speech Lang Hear Res, June 1, 2008; 51(3): 772 - 784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Kidd and J. H. Hogben Does the Auditory Saltation Stimulus Distinguish Dyslexic From Competently Reading Adults? J Speech Lang Hear Res, August 1, 2007; 50(4): 982 - 998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Ortiz, J. E. Jimenez, E. Garcia Miranda, R. Guzman Rosquete, I. Hernandez-Valle, M. Rodrigo, A. Estevez, A. Diaz, and S. Hernandez Exposito Locus and Nature of Perceptual Phonological Deficit in Spanish Children With Reading Disabilities J Learn Disabil, February 1, 2007; 40(1): 80 - 92. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. C. Mimran Temporal processing deficits in hebrew speaking children with reading disabilities. J Speech Lang Hear Res, February 1, 2006; 49(1): 127 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Savage, N. Frederickson, R. Goodwin, U. Patni, N. Smith, and L. Tuersley Relationships Among Rapid Digit Naming, Phonological Processing, Motor Automaticity, and Speech Perception in Poor, Average, and Good Readers and Spellers J Learn Disabil, February 1, 2005; 38(1): 12 - 28. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Ramus, S. Rosen, S. C. Dakin, B. L. Day, J. M. Castellote, S. White, and U. Frith Theories of developmental dyslexia: insights from a multiple case study of dyslexic adults Brain, April 1, 2003; 126(4): 841 - 865. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Watson, G. R. Kidd, D. G. Horner, P. J. Connell, A. Lowther, D. A. Eddins, G. Krueger, D. A. Goss, B. B. Rainey, M. D. Gospel, et al. Sensory, Cognitive, and Linguistic Factors in the Early Academic Performance of Elementary School Children: The Benton-IU Project J Learn Disabil, March 1, 2003; 36(2): 165 - 197. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. J Bailey and M. J Snowling Auditory processing and the development of language and literacy Br. Med. Bull., October 1, 2002; 63(1): 135 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Studdert-Kennedy, M. Mody, and S. Brady A Response to Denenberg J Learn Disabil, July 1, 2001; 34(4): 302 - 303. [PDF]

				F. Norrelgen, F. Lacerda, and H. Forssberg Temporal Resolution of Auditory Perception in Relation to Perception, Memory, and Language Skills in Typical Children J Learn Disabil, July 1, 2001; 34(4): 359 - 369. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Habib The neurological basis of developmental dyslexia: An overview and working hypothesis Brain, December 1, 2000; 123(12): 2373 - 2399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Studdert-Kennedy, M. Mody, and S. Brady Speech Perception Deficits in Poor Readers: A Reply to Denenberg's Critique J Learn Disabil, July 1, 2000; 33(4): 317 - 321. [Abstract] [PDF]