Impact of maternal postpartum depression on early language development in Egyptian children: a preliminary study

Abstract

Abstract Background This preliminary study investigated frequency of postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers of delayed language children and its impact on their language acquisition. Method This is a retrospective case–control study from Egypt. Data was collected between February and May 2025 and included 203 children aged from 3 to 7 years old; 100 diagnosed with language delay and 103 typical language development. The study evaluates the frequency of PPD among mothers of both groups. Language was assessed through Arabic Preschool Language Scale (PLS-4). Results PPD was present in 60% of mothers of children with language delay compared with only 5.8% in the control group. Strong association was observed between maternal postpartum depression and delayed language acquisition risk in children. Conclusions Postpartum depression is significantly associated with language delay among Egyptian children. Highlighting the importance of close follow up for language development in children born to mothers experiencing depressive symptoms. Moreover, ensuring mother’s mental health screening as a part of routine pediatric and language assessments should be considered as it may facilitate earlier identification and timely intervention, ultimately improving language outcomes. Future research should adopt a longitudinal design to examine the detailed long-term effects of maternal PPD on the development of the child’s language.