Recent changes in the etiology of hearing disorders: perinatal drug exposure.
In recent years, we have observed causes of congenital or early onset hearing disorders that had not been recognized or known to exist before. These include drugs passed to an as-yet unborn child. Principal among them is alcohol, but others, such as cocaine, are now also occupying our attention. This article reviews the effects of such exposure on the communication skills of children who had been exposed. It is not yet clear whether there are specifically auditory effects, nor is it clear whether the communicative effects are long lasting.
Department of Communication Disorders, Eastern Washington University, Cheney 99004-2431, USA.
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SE
Gerber
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Epstein
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Mencher
D003042:Cocaine; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
D000431:Ethanol; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D003042:Cocaine