[Gender-dependent differences in auditory verbal learning and memory skills in children?].

BACKGROUND

Girls tend to acquire language skills faster than boys do. Furthermore, specific language impairment and dyslexia are diagnosed more often in males than in females. We investigated whether auditory verbal learning skills in boys are inferior to those of girls as a possible cause for gender dependency in language acquisition.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, data from 386 children (245 male, 141 female) age 6 years to 9 years 11 months were investigated. The Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeitstest) was administered.

RESULTS

After gender, age, and IQ matching, girls showed a small advantage in long-term memory and recognition.

DISCUSSION: Our results are in contrast to findings that suggest superior verbal memory and learning in adult females compared with males.