A comparison of speech and language test scores and spontaneous speech samples in drug exposed and non-drug exposed preschool-age children

This thesis investigates the relationship between scored spontaneous speech samples and speech and language test scores in preschool-age children. Test scores and speech samples of 10 children who were prenatally exposed to toxic substances were compared with those of 10 children who were not prenatally exposed to toxic substances.;This study reveals that while all 20 children were from similar family situations and were identified as being at risk for learning and/or behavioral problems, only those 10 children who were prenatally exposed to drugs displayed deficits in their spontaneous speech production. Therefore, it appears that standardized speech and language test scores may not accurately reflect exposed children's spontaneous speech production abilities and that age-equivalent or near age-equivalent expressive language test scores for exposed children do not necessarily imply that these children will have age equivalent conversation skills.