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. 2011 Jan-Feb;33(1):17-24.
doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2010.06.006. Epub 2010 Jun 30.

The effects of prenatal cocaine on language development at 10 years of age

Barbara A Lewis  1 , Sonia Minnes, Elizabeth J Short, Paul Weishampel, Sudtida Satayathum, Meeyoung O Min, Suchitra Nelson, Lynn T Singer
Affiliations

The effects of prenatal cocaine on language development at 10 years of age

Barbara A Lewis et al. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2011 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the long term effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on the language development of 10-year-old children utilizing a prospective design, controlling for confounding drug and environmental factors.

Participants: Children exposed to cocaine in utero (PCE; n=175) and non-exposed children (NCE; n=175) were followed prospectively to 10years of age and were compared on language subscales of the Test of Language Development-Intermediate 3rd Edition (TOLD-I:3) and phonological processing as measured by the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP).

Methods: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), linear regression, and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the relationship of prenatal cocaine exposure to language development, while controlling for confounders.

Results: After controlling for confounding variables, prenatal cocaine effects were observed for specific aspects of language including syntax (Sentence Combining subtest of the TOLD-I:3, p=0.001), semantics (Malopropism subtest of the TOLD-I:3, p=0.05) and phonological processing (Phonological Awareness subscale, p=0.01). The caregiver factors of vocabulary, HOME, and psychological symptoms also had consistent effects on language subtests and phonological processing scores. Children with PCE who experienced foster or adoptive care had enhanced language development compared to those living with birth mothers or in relative care. Cocaine exposed girls had lower scores on the phonological awareness subscale of the CTOPP than non-exposed girls.

Conclusions: PCE has subtle effects on specific aspects of language development and phonological processing at age 10, even after controlling for confounding variables. Environmental factors (i.e., postnatal lead exposure, home environment, and caregiver vocabulary and psychological symptoms) also impact language skills at 10years. Adoptive or foster care appears to enrich PCE children's linguistic environment and protects children against language delay in the PCE sample.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adjusted Mean Score of CTOPP Phonological Awareness by Cocaine Status and Gender, controlled for parity, maternal marital status, current caregiver’s PPVT-R, current caregiver’s global severity index, maternal alcohol dose per week 3rd trimester. Cocaine exposed girls had a lower Phonological Awareness score than non-cocaine exposed girls (p=0.013).
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