Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Click View then Header and Footer to change this footer What is FASD? Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a new term that

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Click View then Header and Footer to change this footer

What is FASD?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a new term that refers to a range of outcomes including mild to severe disturbances of physical, behavioural, emotional, and/or social functioning that have been observed in many individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure

(Streissguth & O’Malley, 2000)


FASD is a Spectrum

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

• Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)

• Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

• Partial FAS (pFAS)(Stratton, et al., 1996)


Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure

• Growth retardation

• Central nervous system (CNS) disorders

• Facial dysmorphia


FAS and Facial Dysmorphia


FAS and Brain Damage


Other Disorders on the Spectrum

• Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)

• Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

• Partial FAS (pFAS)


What is the prevalence rate?

How do you get FASD?

Why isn’t it so well known?


Recap

• FASD can take different forms.

• It always results in permanent brain damage.

• It is often diagnosed as LD or ADHD.

• FASD is often unrecognized because the physical characteristics are not visible.


FASD IS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE.


Exposure to alcohol in the womb may compromise the

cognitive, social, and emotional development of the unborn child.


Cognitive Characteristics

• IQ scores are usually within average range

• LD (slow and/faulty processing, math)

• Memory problems – short and long term

• Low academic achievement

• Poor adaptive skills


Behavioural Characteristics

• Often identified in school as having ADHD (problems with attention, impulsivity, executive functioning)

• Poor memory often makes meting out consequences ineffective


Emotional Characteristics and Social Behaviour

• Mental health issues – depression, ODD, conduct disorder, anxiety disorders, OCD, and bipolar disorder

• Low self-esteem, mood disorders, substance abuse

• Aggression • Social skills are delayed• Easily manipulated, few “real” friends


General Teaching Techniques for Students with FASD

• Know the student’s strengths and weaknesses.• Observe the student to see how he or she

experiences stress, relieves tension, copes with problems and change.

• Be aware of times when a student is feeling anxious or frustrated and re-direct activities.

• Supervise the student closely to ensure that situations where he or she may harm others do not occur (anticipate and prevent problems from occurring).


General Teaching Techniques for Students with FASD

• Have a structured environment, follow routines, and have a class schedule.

• Repeat the rules and expectations often.• Be consistent with consequences and link them to

choices.• Teach self-control through verbalization.• Help them learn to take responsibility for their actions

– do not accept the excuse of “I couldn’t help it” or “It was somebody else’s fault.”


Common Accommodations for Secondary Students with FASD

• Extra time for examinations• Resource room for 1:1 assistance, instruction on

study skills• Special education class placement with integration• Coop placements• Individualized curriculum with life skills• Assignment of a paraprofessional• Permission to leave the class when overwhelmed


What do we know about the educational

experiences of individuals with FASD?


High School Completion

• Educators who know about FASD and are willing to make accommodations and modifications to curriculum

• Students said they persist because of their friends

• Parent support and advocacy


Parent Advocacy

Four dimensions:

• Awareness• Information seeking• Presenting the case• Monitoring


Post-Secondary School, Employment, and Adult Life

Our research has shown that a few young

adults with FASD do register in post-secondary programs, have jobs, and can live semi-independently.


In conclusion

• Support for parents

• Support for students

• Support for research

• Prevention


THANK YOU!

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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Click View then Header and Footer to change this footer What is FASD? Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a new term that