Effect of prenatal mental health problems on early speech sound acquisition

Abstract

The study investigated prospectively the effect of prenatal mental health problems in terms of anxiety and depression on speech sound acquisition in 26 mother-child dyads. Prenatal anxiety and depression were assessed using validated screening tools during late pregnancy. Speech sound production ability was assessed in terms of the number of atypical phonological patterns produced in a standardized speech assessment when the children reached the age of 2. Multiple regression analyses illustrated that prenatal depression uniquely explained 30.8% of the variance in speech sound acquisition after controlling for the child’s sex and postnatal maternal depression level. However, the regression model for the anxiety measures was not significant. In conclusion, clinical level of prenatal depression was significantly associated with more atypical phonological patterns. The current findings contribute to the understanding of the etiology of functional speech sound disorders (SSD).At the clinical level, prenatal depression maybe taken as a risk factor for SSD and the importance of enhancing mental health in pregnant women with depression is empathized. Early phonological assessment and intervention of children exposed to depression during late pregnancy are also recommended.