PURPOSE: To verify the occurrence of alterations in the development, in particular language development, in children with history of metal lead exposure, and whether there is a correlation between index of contamination and language development. METHODS: Fifty eight children with ages between 12 and 36 months were submitted to speech-language pathology screening; 15 of these children failed the screening, and were referred to specific evaluation using the Behavioral Development Scale by Gesell and Amatruda (Escala de Desenvolvimento Comportamental de Gesell e Amatruda). The correlation between lead index and the degree of language deficits was verified. RESULTS: Six children presented deficits in the scale's language items; one of them had deficits in all items. CONCLUSION: No significant correlation was found between lead concentration and the degree of the language deficits of the subjects, however, the study suggests that lead contamination became a risk factor for deficits in language development. Therefore, further studies are necessary to verify the damages that this metal can cause in people exposed to it, especially when they are in development.
Lead poisoning; Language development; Child language; Language development disorders; Risk factors
