PURPOSE: to check the performance of the linguistic, cognitive, motor, self-care and socialization development abilities in premature children. METHODS: 30 premature children participated, of both genders, from 6 to 24 months. The evaluation procedures consisted of an anamnesis interview and Operating Portage Inventory (OPI) (Wilhiams & Aiello, 2001) application. The children were divided in two groups, according to age group, for statistical data analysis, considering the age groups from 6 to 11 months and from 12 to 24 months. Data analysis was accomplished through Manny-Whitney test application, comparing the values obtained in the premature children's group with scores foreseen for typical children. RESULTS: the results indicate that the more altered areas of the group in the age group from 6 to 12 months were linguistics and self-care and in the age group from 12 to 24 months the more altered areas were linguistic, cognitive and self-care. CONCLUSION: the need for a newly born premature rigorous attendance, through the development of continuation programs and a multidisciplinary team is emphasized in order to promote precocious detection and intervention, minimizing the impact of problems in these children's global development.
Infant, Premature; Language Development; Cognition; Socialization; Child Development
