Effect of prenatal maternal depression on early speech sound acquisition: a preliminary study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Speech sound disorders (SSD) are the most prevalent childhood communication disorders. Many cases of SSD have an unknown origin. The study investigated the effect of prenatal maternal depression on the offspring's speech sound production. METHOD: Data from 26 mother–child dyads were included in the study. Prenatal maternal depression was assessed by a validated questionnaire during the third trimester of pregnancy. Speech sound production ability was assessed in terms of the number of atypical (non-developmental) speech errors produced in a standardized speech assessment when the children were 2-years-old. RESULTS: Six of the mothers’ questionnaires suggested depression, whereas 20 were within normal limits. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that prenatal depression uniquely accounted for 30.8% of the variance in speech sound acquisition after controlling for the child's sex and postnatal maternal depression level. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal prenatal depression was significantly associated with more atypical speech errors in the offspring at 2 years. The current findings contribute to understanding the etiology of SSD with unknown origin. At a clinical level, prenatal depression could be taken as a risk factor for SSD.