Maternal Drug Abuse and Neonatal Hearing Impairment

Abstract

Mothers who abuse legal and/or illicit drugs while pregnant harm not only themselves, but their unborn children as well. Of the many detriments caused to the developing fetus by maternal drug abuse, hearing impairments are amongst those most common. There are a plethora of drugs that may be taken by pregnant mothers; however, alcohol and cocaine are used most frequently. Hearing impairment found in neonates who were prenatally exposed to teratogens, may consist of damage done to the auditory system either as a direct or indirect result of maternal drug abuse.