Prenatal cocaine and tobacco effects on children's language trajectories.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of prenatal cocaine and polydrug exposure on language development of preschool children using a prospective longitudinal model, controlling for confounders.


METHODS
Children who were exposed to cocaine in utero (n = 209) and nonexposed children (n = 189) were followed prospectively at birth and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 years of age and were compared on receptive, expressive, and total language scores across time using random coefficient models, controlling for confounders.


RESULTS
A significant, stable effect of cocaine exposure on language development was observed over time for all language domains, with cocaine exposure related to poorer language performance. Cigarette exposure was related to lower receptive language scores. Environmental influences on language scores were also observed. Both the cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children declined in language performance over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal cocaine exposure has a stable negative effect on language skills during the first 6 years of life. Both cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children showed decreased language growth over time; however, cocaine-exposed children demonstrated linguistic deficits compared with nonexposed peers and did not catch up. Cigarette and environmental influences were also noted.
Lewis
Barbara A
BA
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. bxl@case.edu
Kirchner
H Lester
HL
Short
Elizabeth J
EJ
Minnes
Sonia
S
Weishampel
Paul
P
Satayathum
Sudtida
S
Singer
Lynn T
LT
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
C005618:benzoylecgonine; D003042:Cocaine