title: Interpretation of ambiguities by schoolchildren with low birth weight from Embu das Artes, São Paulo state, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the development of language regarding the ability to recognize and interpret lexical ambiguity in low-birth-weight schoolchildren enrolled at the school system in the municipality of Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo state, compared with that of schoolchildren with normal birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control, retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted with 378 schoolchildren, both genders, aged 5 to 9.9 years, from the municipal schools of Embu das Artes. Study Group (SG) comprising 210 schoolchildren with birth weight < 2500 g. Control Group (CG) composed of 168 school children with birth weight ≥ 2500 g. Participants of both groups were compared with respect to the skills of recognition and verbal interpretation of sentences containing lexical ambiguity using the Test of Language Competence. Variables of interest: Age and gender of children; age and schooling of mothers. Statistical analysis: Descriptive analysis to characterize the sample and score per group; Student's t test for comparison between the total scores of each skill/subtest; Chi-square test to compare items within each subtest; multiple regression analysis for the intervening variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants of the SG presented lower scores for ambiguous sentences compared with those of participants of the CG. Multiple regression analysis showed that child's current age was a predictor for all metalinguistic skills regarding interpretation of ambiguities in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants of the SG presented lower specific and total scores than those of participants of the CG for ambiguity skills. The child's current age factor positively influenced the ambiguity skills in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Rebeca Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Sarah Cueva Cândido Soares de
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Selma Mie
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Isotani
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosana Fiorini
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Puccini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Jacy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perissinoto
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D017150:Public Sector; D012574:Schools