Abstract: Recently much research on working memory in LD showed, children with reading disability and children with math disability have some deficiencies in verbal working memory and executive function; Children with math disability have deficiency in visual-space working memory, but there has dispute whether children with reading disability show deficiency in visual-space working memory; There has been much dispute over whether LD are characters of developmental lag or developmental deficit, which is partly caused by the methods adopted. The field is facing some challenges including causal relationship between LD and deficiencies in working memory, the validity and sensitiveness of materials used to assess working memory, the relationship between working memory and other cognitive abilities. The future research should be carried by adopting longitudinal design, multivariate statistical procedure, reforming method and techniques of assessing working memory, explaining roles and mechanisms of working memory in the field of academic domain.

Key words: learning disabilities, working memory, developmental lag, developmental deficit