Issues of Developmental Measurement in Clinical Research and Practice Settings with Children Who Were Prenatally Exposed to Drugs

Abstract

Health care providers in clinical and research settings assess the developmental status of increasing numbers of infants and children who were prenatally exposed to drugs. Although assessment of these infants is similar to that of other at-risk infants, limitations and other issues of assessment may be overlooked given societal concerns about drug exposure. In order to meet the evaluation nneeds of children who were prenatally exposed to drugs, providers must know the limitations associated with the process and instrumentation of assessment, and address the shortcomings of evaluation itself. We review the issues and provide recommendations for change related to measurement; sources of bias; specificity and sensitivity of assessment tools; longitudinal assessment; and multidimensional approaches to assessment.