PURPOSE: To verify relations between the oral language development of preterm children and the quality of mother-child interaction. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 20 mother and child dyads. An interview was conducted with the mother to obtain data about birth and life conditions. The development of oral language of the children was assessed using a test that evaluates phonology, fluency, vocabulary and pragmatics. RESULTS: It was observed that the most part of mothers considered themselves the main caretaker and behavior´s control and care are more important the stimulus in dyadic relation. All children scored bellow the expected for their age in the tests performed. CONCLUSION: Besides the contribution of biological factors associated to prematureness, these results can be attributed to the quantity and quality of mother-child interaction, since mothers informed to prioritize obedience and good behavior more than stimulation of the development.
Language; Mother-child interactions; Infant, Premature; Psichology; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences