Visual Attention and Distraction in Aphasic and Non-Aphasic Children

The ability to sustain visual attention was compared in 13 aphasic and 13 non-aphasic children. The aphasic children gave significantly more errors on the visual vigilance task than their controls. The difference remained under visual distraction but no significant performance reductions resulted. It was concluded that several of the aphasic children showed significant attentional deficits. The data support a need for systemaric clinical evaluation of attention in children with central language disorders.