Long-Term Neurocognitive Changes in Children With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Purpose: The current scoping review examined cognitive, behavioral, and developmental deficits in children aged 1 month to 17 years with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), with implications for longitudinal outcomes, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), language delay, and learning disabilities. Method: A scoping review methodology was used to identify and analyze 36 studies from CINAHL, PubMed, ERIC, and PsycINFO to comprehensively capture nursing and psychology literature. Inclusion criteria focused on children with NAS and neurocognitive outcomes across five developmental stages. Results: Nine subthemes of neurocognitive change were evaluated: cognition; behavior; emotion; motor activity; learning or intelligence; vision or visual perception; social interaction; language; and physiological developmental. Preschool and school-age children showed the highest prevalence of ADHD and language delays, whereas adolescents exhibited increased behavioral and emotional disturbances. Conclusion: Findings have important implications for psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioners, principally in the early identification, planning, screening, and clinical integration for neurodevelopmental and mental health sequelae in children with NAS.