Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Background:
"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a birth defect involving permanent brain damage caused by
prenatal exposure to alcohol. FAS may cause many other birth defects."
Taken from an article by Ann Waller, M. Ed.
Provided by www.fetalalcoholsyndreme.org
Fetal Aclohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) is the origional name associated with a group of physical
and mental defects present from birth that is the direct result of a woman's drinking alcoholic beverages while she is pregnant. FAS is a lifelong condition with no treatment. Fas is the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects.
FAS/E covers Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD). ARND describes the functional or mental impairments linked to parental alcohol exposure, ARBD refers to the malformations in skeletal and major organ systems.
Children with FAS have a deficite in processing information. This includes recording information, interpreting information, storing information, and using the information forlanguage and movement.
75% of children with FAS and 90% of children with FAE have a normal IQ. When first discovered in the early 1970's this was thaught to be an advantage. However recent research has shown that those individuals with a normal IQ can't use the information they gather to make good judgements or choises to change their behaviors. Their behavior will look willful. They will repeadidly make the same mistake with an aire of innocence.
Taken from an article by Ann Waller, M. Ed.
Every year as many as 12,000 infants are born with FAS. Three times then those that are born with ARND or ARBD. These three disorders effect more newborns than Down syndrome, cystic
fibrosis, spina bifida and SIDS combined!
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Characteristics
Primary characteristics include: facial abnormalities, growth deficiency and evidence of central nervous system dysfunction, mental retardation, poor motor skills, pattern of behavior and learning problems, difficulties with memory attention and judgement.
Parents report that toddlers (age 1-5) are:
- medically fragile
- usually require high maintenance, keeping parents alert and on duty 24 hours a day
- often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep patterns
- highly manipulative
- a danger to self and others because they do not grasp the universal laws of cause and effect
- void of the normal sequential learning abilities in reasoning, judgement and memory
- very difficult to manage when out in public
- no natural fear of danger, e.g., lacking in the normal ability to distinguish between friend and enemy
- Misunderstood by service providers because their IQ's appear to be developing normally
Parents report than children age 6-11 are:
- impulsive, unpredictable and mischievous, creating ongoing safety hazards, such as setting fires and running away
- often exhausted and irritable from uneaven sleep patterns
- innately skilled in manipulative tactics
- void of normal sense of justice
- overlooked as permanently disabled because their IQ's are normal
- desperate for stimulation and excitement to keep them entertained and happy
- emotionally volatile and often exhibit wide mood swings throughout the day
- disconnected from their own feelings and are unable to identify or express logical reasons behind their volitile outbursts
- isolated and lonely because the desire to be included remains intact while the reasoning skill to figure out why they are excluded is lacking
- angry and resentful toward more structure and supervision than their peers need
- void of natural empathy for others
Parents of children age 12-17 report their children are:
- moral chameleons (despite consistant loving care, family values and even general rules of social behavior are not being internalized)
- often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep patterns
- at high risk for being drawn into anti-social behavior: stealing, lying, running away, etc.
- continuing to be a safety menace to themselves and others
- still in need of limits and protection like a three year old
- often obsessed by primal impulses such as sexual activity and fire setting
- able to recognize and will submit to raw power, making them vulnerable to gangs
- seriously impaired when it comes to making decisions (not having the judgement or reasoning skills to make decisions)
- terrified of major transitions or change, e.g., middle school, moving, etc.
- extremely vulnerable to ideas in movies, videos, music, TV and advertisements
- unaware of normal hygiene needs
- unable to take responsibility for their actions
Note: These characteristics may appear to be typical behavior in a normal person,
but in individuals who have been disabled by prenatal exposure to alcohol, these traits
occur in grossly exaggerated form and do not respond to typical interventions.
Article from fetalalcoholsyndrome.org
Treatment
THERE IS NO TREATMENT!! You can only prevent the disorder.
Tips for fostering
Ways to comfort a drug withdrawing baby
- Wrap or swaddle the baby in a soft blanket
- Keep the lights dim to decrease sensory stimulation
- Drape the crib with a blanket or sheet to decrease light and noise
- Keep the noise level down
- Play soft soothing music
- Hold the baby frequently
- Use a pacifier
- Use unstarched, soft blankets, sheets, etc., to prevent rub marks
- Hold Baby Firmly
- Rock gently and slowly
- Speak softly and calmly
- Give gentle massage
- Avoid bouncing and rapid patting
- Place the baby on his/her stomach over a soft ball (like a beachball) to ease abdominal pain
- Use a front pack to carry the baby (baby may want to be covered with blanket of large sweatshirt)
- Make sure medication is given on time, at regular intervals
- Plan for respite care
- Stay calm
- Ask for help when you need it
Signs of overstimulation:
- Avoiding eye contact
- Tension
- Sucking on hands or fingers
- Frowning or grimacing
- Yawning
Taken from betterendings.org
Effetive strategies:
- Fostering independence in self-help and play
- Giving the child choices and encouraging decision making
- Focus on teaching daily living skills
- Encourage the use of positive self talk
- Have child get ready for next school day before going to bed
- Establish a few simple rules. Use identical language to remind them of the rules. "This is your bed, this is where you are supposed to be."
- Establish routines so child can predict coming events
- Give child lots of of advance warning that activity will soon change to another one
- For unpredictable behavior at bedtime/mealtime, establish a firm routine
- Break their work down into small pieces so they do not feel overwhelmed
- Be concrete when teaching a new concept. Show them
Discipline:
- Set limits and follow them consistently
- Change rewards often to keep interest in reward getting high
- Review and repeat consequences of behaviors. Ask them to tell you consequences
- Do not debate or argue over rules already established. "Just do it."
- Notice and comment when your child is doing well or behaving appropriately
- Avoid threats
- Redirect behavior
- Intervene before behavior escalates
- Avoid situations where child will be overstimulated
- Have child repeat back their understanging of directions
- Protect them from being exploited. They are naive
- Have pre-established consequences for misbehavior
Provided by the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
CONTENTS!
Questions