Linguagem oral, leitura e escrita em crianças em idade escolar nascidas de pré-termo

Abstract

The latest demographic studies released by the National Institute of Statistics show a decrease in live births and, at the same time, an increase in low birth weight live births (less than 2500 grams) and premature (less than 37 weeks of gestation) ones, it represents 9% and 8% respectively of births in Portugal. The premature birth and low birth weight are considered factors of great importance for the child's development, particularly with regard to the acquisition and development of their oral language and, consequently, their success in learning how to read and how to write. The actual research interest in this population focuses, especially, on children born preterm (PT) without complications in the postnatal period, given the evidence that they may p resent specific disturbances in their development. These children, as they do not have major risk factors, are not included in the surveillance protocols for newborns at risk regarding their neurodevelopment.With this research work, carried out in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, it is intended to analyze the influence of gestational age and birth weight on the development of oral and written language in school­age children born preterm between 26 and at 36 weeks of gestational age and without serious complications in the postnatal period. To this end, three different studies were carried out, with a group of 49 children born PT and a paired group of 27 children born at term, between 7 and 10 years, focusing on: (1) oral language, (2) reading and (3) writing. The results showed that gestational age and birth weight are variables that correlate with linguistic performance, because it was observed that PT children had an atypical linguistic profile, even in cases of moderate to late prematurity. As a result of this analysis, we think that it should have a surveillance of the linguistic development of these children, through assessment protocols, guidance to educators and teachers and also to health professionals, on the importance of early identification of language disorders, in order to intervene timely with a view to a more balanced development, thus preventing future problems, such as difficulties in the development of written language and school failure.

Date of Award	13 Sept 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Emília Pinto dos Santos (Supervisor)