Degree Name
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Program
Early Childhood Education
Date of Award
5-2022
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Carol Trivette
Committee Members
Pam Evanshen, Pam Mims
Abstract
Prenatal opioid exposure has been studied in relation to infants' medical outcomes. However, large gaps exist in the literature supporting early identification of atypical neurobehavior and motor development of infants with prenatal opioid exposure. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether prenatal opioid exposure has a negative influence on a newborn infant’s neurobehavior and motor development to aid in the early identification of potential delays. Using a prospective quasi experimental design, infants motor development using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and neurobehavior using the NICU Neonatal Network Scale (NNNS) was assessed on 58 infants in a hospital setting. Even after statistically controlling for covariates both the TIMP and the six out of twelve subscales of the NNNS: attention, handling, self-regulation, arousal, excitability, and stress were significantly different between the two groups of infants. Infants’ TIMP z-scores were significantly correlated with the NNNS subscales of attention, handing, self-regulation, arousal, excitability, hypertonicity, non-optimal reflexes, and stress. The findings highlight the similarities between the two groups and the outcome measures used for early identification of infants at-risk for delays following prenatal opioid exposure. The neonatal outcomes described here, including growth deficits, motor delays and altered neurobehavior are critical given their association with longer-term health and developmental impacts.
Document Type
Dissertation - embargo
Recommended Citation
Boynewicz, Kara, "Early Detection of Atypical Motor and Neurobehavior of Infants at Risk Secondary to Opioid Exposure: A Prospective Study" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4065. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4065
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Biological Factors Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Development Studies Commons, Early Childhood Education Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Other Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons, Physical Therapy Commons, Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons, Therapeutics Commons