Chances of reversibility in early sensory deprivation of the Homo vulnerabilis: A 5-year (and ongoing) prospective study

Abstract

Background: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program in vulnerable children with language deficits.

Aims/Objectives: Evaluating reversibility of a sensory understimulation.

Material/Methods: Two groups of five students, each, (sensory and not sensory deprived) were evaluated at ages 5 and 11. Both groups were taught the compulsory national educational program. The sensory deprived group also had a 5-year rehabilitation program. After that time, their language and vocabulary were reevaluated.

Results: Both groups became able to read, write and perform mathematical operations. Both groups took the compulsory elementary school national performance test and all of them performed above the national average. Despite these good performances the differences between both groups regarding language persisted.

Conclusions: Deficits in children with early sensory deprivation are improved with rehabilitation programs. In order to achieve better restoration, intervention should be done earlier than at 5 years of age. Even if some deficits are not fully reversible, the improvement is significant and allows social inclusion and the possibility of breaking their circle of vulnerability.

Significance: Documenting the importance of early rehabilitation in sensory deficits.

Chinese abstract

背景：这项前瞻性研究评估了语言缺陷弱势儿童康复计划的有效性。

目的：评估感官刺激不足的可逆性。

材料/方法：对两组各5名学生（感觉缺失和非感觉缺失）在其5岁和11岁时进行评估。两组学生都接受了国家义务教育计划。感觉缺失组还参与了5年的康复计划。之后, 对他们的语言和词汇进行了重新评估。

结果：两组学生都能读、写和进行数学运算。两组都参加了义务的国家小学学绩测试, 结果均高于全国平均水平。尽管有这些良好的表现, 但两组之间在语言方面的差异仍然存在。

结论：早期感觉缺失儿童的缺陷通过康复计划得到了改善。为了取得更好的康复, 干预应在5岁之前进行。即使某些缺陷不完全可逆, 改善也是显著的, 并可导致社会包容, 打破弱势循环。

意义：记录早期康复对感觉缺陷的重要性。

Keywords:

• Abstract-thinking
• sensory deprivation
• educational intervention
• language development
• vulnerability
• social inclusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.