A prospective evaluation of early language development in children with in utero cocaine exposure and in control subjects

Abstract

A cohort of children of low socioeconomic status, 76 with in utero cocaine exposure and 81 control subjects, was assessed for early language development at 2½ years of age by a masked examiner using the Preschool Language Scale. There were no differences between groups in expressive, receptive, or total language score (all p ≥0.57). Physicians caring for cocaine-exposed children with early language delay should not automatically ascribe the delay to cocaine exposure but should initiate a standard evaluation for language delay.(J Pediatr 1997;130;310-2)