Performance of adolescents in oral narrative discourse and associated factors

PURPOSE: to characterize the performance in oral narrative discourse of adolescents from 6 to 9 years of age from an elementary school, as well as to verify the influence of gender, school year, age, performance in oral language tests, memory, and appointment of figures. METHODS: 100 adolescents of both genders from the sixth to the ninth years of elementary school who did not have any language or learning disorders were evaluated for oral narrative discourse (MAC Battery), visual figure nomination (Boston Naming Test), oral language and memory (NEUPSILIN). Performance was considered as a response variable in narrative discourse (partial and complete retelling and the ability to answer questions). After univariate analysis, Multiple Linear Regression models were constructed. RESULTS: Only general performance in the naming task was considered as a predictor of performance in oral narrative discourse. A direct association between the variables of narrative discourse and the naming of figures was present. We show the characteristics of adolescents' performance in the partial and complete retelling and in the answers to the questions by age, school year and sex. CONCLUSION: in the studied sample the participants (aged from two to seven years old) were able to understand and detail an oral narrative discourse similar to adults with a low educational level, consequently the MAC Battery narrative discourse test can be used to assess adolescents without any requirements for adaptation.