title: Prenatal cocaine and tobacco effects on children's language trajectories.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. bxl@case.edu
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: H Lester
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minnes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weishampel
authors.forename: Sudtida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satayathum
authors.forename: Lynn T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: C005618:benzoylecgonine; D003042:Cocaine