Special Education Needs of Children with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Developmental delay and speech or language impairment were the most common reasons for children with NAS to receive special education.

The incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) — a group of problems a newborn experiences after discontinuation of in utero exposure to opioids — has increased dramatically in recent decades. Infants with NAS have higher rates of cognitive and behavioral problems in early childhood compared with those without NAS, but their longer-term educational needs are not known.

To better understand the educational disabilities associated with NAS, investigators examined Tennessee birth certificate data to identify 1815 children born with NAS and matched them by age, sex, race/ethnicity, Medicaid status, and school district with 5441 controls born during the same period. The researchers then linked these data with special education data on the ch…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Special Education Needs of Children with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

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Reviewing Author