Simple Raisin Test Can Predict Learning Disabilities in Premature Babies

How interesting will it be to test your baby’s learning abilities at home? The only requirements for the test is a raisin and a cup.

A team of researchers at the University of Warwick have come with a technique to know about the learning abilities of babies. The study was mainly focused on identifying whether premature babies will have learning disabilities.

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‘The simple raisin test will help in predicting learning abilities and offer early interventions for premature babies.’

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This test can be done by placing a raisin under a cup and ask the child not to touch it until you instruct them to do. If they take it immediately without even waiting for a minute, then it indicates lower self-inhibitive behavior.

Researchers said that most of the premature babies would have a tendency to grab the raisin immediately. But if they wait at least for a minute then their learning ability will be greater.

Researchers concluded that better inhibitory control at age 20 months predicted better attention regulation and academic achievement at eight years. They also suggested that this simple test will be useful for predicting learning abilities in premature babies and help in early interventions.

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A recent study by academics at UCL and Goldsmiths has revealed that nearly 2 to 3 children in every classroom are grappling with specific learning difficulties.

“An easy, five-minute raisin game task represents a promising new tool for follow-up assessments to predict attention regulation and learning in preterm and term born children. However, if they do want to try it and discover that their child finds it hard to control himself from taking the raisin immediately, they may want to talk to their child and perhaps make it clear that they can not interrupt but have to wait short periods,” said Dieter Wolke, lead author.

Source-Medindia

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