Abstract
Although evidence suggests that infants of methadone dependent women (IMDW) are within normal range in their mental and motor development, this is predictive neither of later intellectual functioning nor the presence of learning disorders. In order to investigate the possible existence of long-term dysfunction, 25 IMDW who underwent abstinence and 25 control Ss are being evaluated at 4 yrs. of age. To date, 10 male and 11 female Ss have been studied. The addicted group, N=9, x age 4.3, were born to methadone maintained women participating in the Family Center Program. The non-addicted group, N=12, x age 4.3, were randomly selected from a stratified population of comparable socioeconomic, race and medical backgrounds. Ss were assessed with: Test of Language Development (TOLD), Imitation of Gestures (IM), Motor Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) and a neurological exam. Group means and standard deviations were:
A t-test revealed no significant differences between groups on the WPPSI (t=1.04, p<.05). All neurological exams were normal. This preliminary data suggests that there are no apparent longterm effects on children from prenatal methadone use.
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Kaltenbach, K., Graziani, L. & Finnegan, L. 49 DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN BORN TO WOMEN WHO RECEIVED METHADONE DURING PREGNANCY. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 372 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00054
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00054