title: Identification of early developmental deficits in infants with prenatal heroin, methadone, and other opioid exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study aims to examine development in infants following prenatal heroin, methadone, and opioid exposure, which adversely affects central and autonomic nervous systems. Abrupt discontinuation results in neurologic and behavioral findings as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following NAS treatment, 28 infants (mean age 55 days [range 21-98 days], 57% male) were assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) Cognitive, Language, and Motor subscales. Outcomes were compared with a historical control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Language and Cognition scores were significantly lower (P < .001) in the NAS group. Distributions of scores for Language (P < .001) and Cognition (P = .022) were also significantly different between NAS and historical control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal heroin, methadone, and other opioid exposure is associated with weaknesses in language and cognition. This information has important public health implications, drawing attention to an otherwise healthy infant population which may benefit from early intervention services.
authors.affiliation: Children's Specialized Hospital, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Mountainside, NJ, USA abeckwith@childrens-specialized.org.
authors.forename: Anna Malia
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Beckwith
authors.affiliation: Children's Specialized Hospital, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone
keywords: development; neonatal abstinence syndrome; prenatal drug exposure