Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence, in part or in whole, of an extra 21st chromosome. It is estimated that Down syndrome occurs in 1 out every 1,000 births.

It is well known that children with Down syndrome have a deficit in verbal short-term and working memory. Studies suggest there is a specific deficit in the phonological loop function of the working memory, the component dealing with audio information. This deficit is likely a main reason why the Down syndrome population has significant speech and language problems. Because of this, there is clearly a need for effective, sustainable working memory interventions to help children with Down syndrome improve their verbal memory function and thus improve their speech and language capabilities.