RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT DELAY¹

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to identify risk and protective factors, according to national and international literature, associated with delays in the development of children’s oral language. An integrative review of the literature was developed in the databases Lilacs, PsycINFO and Web of Science. The search resulted in 12 articles that met the selection criteria. Most of the studies identified static risk factors, which are mainly biological variables, or related to the child’s life history. A smaller number of researches investigated dynamic risk and protective factors, among which the social support offered to the child was highlighted. Knowing which factors are related to these delays is essential for formulation of proposals that aim an adequate development of the language. Gaps in the literature and the need for new research with more rigorous methodological designs are discussed, considering the importance of this discussion for possible interventions.

Keywords:
Risk factors; protective factors; language development