Studies conducted previously have shown that depression is linked to a baby’s language development problems. But, a group of researchers at the University of British Columbia has published its latest study in the U. S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which says that taking a treatment for the same also results in the same issue in children.

Maternal depression is seen in almost 20% of all pregnant women. This is why they are recommended an anti-depressant drug so as to prevent the risks of the condition in their children. But, the findings that the risks of deterioration in language development remain all the same have surprised the team.

In fact, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) were causing babies to reach language development milestones faster as compared to the condition itself. It has been told that infants are ready to learn any language from their life’s beginning. And these universal listeners and watchers are affected by mothers’ depression or its treatment drug.

85 British Columbia mothers with their babies were involved in the study, which found that exposure to SRIs was the main reason for acceleration of speech perception development. “It is really important that pregnant women discuss all treatment options with their physicians or midwives”, said co-author Dr. Tim Oberlander.