Abstract
Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders are at higher risk for both acute and chronic pain. Further, excessive pain exposure in known to have adverse effects on neurodevelopment and neurobehavior outcomes. Pain assessment and management may be complicated in this population by the presence of chronic neuromuscular impairment, self-injurious behavior, impaired ability to self-identify negative feelings, impaired ability to communicate suffering, and/or atypical pain behaviors. When possible, it is important for clinicians to evaluate pain intensity and pain interference ratings directly from the patient with an NDD, as there may be a lack of concordance with caretaker perceptions. When self-report is not possible, observational tools such as the Noncommunicating Children's Pain Checklist–Revised, the Pediatric Pain Profile, or the r-FLACC can be used to assess pain interference. Attempts should be made to identify the origin and type of pain (nociceptive or neuropathic).