Fatores associados a alteração da linguagem em crianças pré-escolares

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify factors related to language disorders among social and nutritional variables in preschoolers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out with 126 children from the south region of the city of Sao Paulo, with ages ranging from 6 months to 6 years. The Denver II Developmental Screening Test was administered to detect the risk for language disorders. The test results were compared to the following variables: age, gender, mother's level of education, child nutritional status, number and order of children's birth, and anemia. Results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS:According to the Denver II test, 18.3% of the 126 participants were at risk for language disorders, and 9.5% presented anemia. No differences were found between risk and non-risk groups regarding age, nutritional status, gender, and mother's education. Differences were found between groups regarding number of children per family, birth order, and presence of anemia. CONCLUSION: The risk for disorders in language acquisition and development was higher in the group with anemia, in the eldest children, and in the children with less than four siblings. Similar studies are necessary to detect possible deviations in language development and, consequently, in the child's learning process and future social performance.