A PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF EARLY LANGUAGE-DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH IN-UTERO COCAINE EXPOSURE AND IN CONTROL SUBJECTS

A cohort of children of low socioeconomic status, 76 with in utero coc aine exposure and 81 control subjects, was assessed for early language development at 2 1/2 years of age by a masked examiner using the Pres chool Language Scale. There were no differences between groups in expr essive, receptive, or total language score (all p greater than or equa l to 0.57). Physicians caring for cocaine-exposed children with early language delay should not automatically ascribe the delay to cocaine e xposure but should initiate a standard evaluation for language delay.