Prematurity and Ways to Deal with Learning Difficulties

Prematurity and Ways to Deal with Learning Difficulties

(Source:pbsparent)

Pre-term birth is defined as being born before the 37 weeks age of gestation. A child who was born within this range is considered as a premature. Common issues among premature babies are their social and developmental difficulties, physical problems and learning disadvantage that is probably brought by medical complications at birth and an early environment that does provide adequate stimulation. 

For me, it is a mere stereotype for people born too soon, almost all people I knew who are in that same shoe doesn't present the problems at all as enumerated above. Some were even board topnotchers and very successful in life. Others just live normally like everybody else. However, being premature plus combination of other serious factors could lead to brain alteration that may lead to learning problems in the future. For some, it is true perhaps depending on the severity of prematurity.

Although new researches and studies fortifies the presumption of  an "Educational Disadvantage" for children born prematurely, as a parent, we need to anticipate them and have early intervention measures at hand to prevent the child from getting worse. Early stages of their life is very crucial for acquisition of knowledge and insight, and trouble with this stage most likely has an impact into their whole lives.

So what can be done to prevent the child from experiencing learning difficulties?

1.  A program of occupational, speech therapy and a good special  education program that includes socialization skills is required to mainstream premature children. However, some parents do not know about these programs due to inaccessibility to health care agencies concerned in this matter, and another factor also is their salience about the problem.

2. Enrolling a child in a nursery school. Nursery school can provide a stimulating and interactive environment through different age-appropriate activities that facilitates brain function and social interaction too. Diverse activities that includes thinking and play can create multiple wires to the child's brain that would aid in the development of further skills.

3. Parent's role. Your role as a parent is to monitor, reinforce, and cater special needs. Some parent just stick around to the cliche advises like "he will catch-up eventually" so they just hang on with a "wait-and-see" attitude when in fact they should be doing some interventions about the issue. 

Parents should create a home environment that is stimulating and interactive similar to a nursery school. Buying educational books with several pictures can expose your child to different subjects. Playing educational videos while they do nothing will help retain information through seeing and hearing. Serve your home as a main institution for learning, socializing and love. 

As a parent, there will be times you can teach your child new skills or reinforce the skills he learns elsewhere in order to help him achieve. At other times, you may have to seek out and identify the services your child will need in the community, or at school and advocate to make certain he gets these services. You will also play an important role by providing encouragement for your child to practice new skills and celebrating his efforts and successes. (Source: AboutKidsHealth.ca)