Presentation modality influences WAIS Digit Span performance in younger and older adults

Abstract

The WAIS–R Digit Span subtests require oral presentation of digits. Older adults with hearing impairments may have reduced recall due to deficits in hearing. It is also possible that older adults' recall is influenced by recall superiority for auditory versus visual information (the auditory superiority effect). Auditory and visual versions of the Digits Forward and Backward tasks were administered to 30 younger adults (18–30 years) and 30 older adults (65–78 years). Although younger adults exhibited marginally better digit recall overall than older adults, all participants' scores were highest for the auditory presentation mode.

Keywords:

• Aging
• Auditory memory
• Visual memory
• Digit span testing
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

This research was supported by a University of Nevada, Las Vegas Stimulation, Implementation, Transition and Enhancement (SITE) grant to the first author. The authors thank Sarah Carlson and Elaine Itchon for their assistance collecting data.