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Resource TopicsEducational Issues |
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/EffectsMany parents, families and educators are involved in caring for, living with and educating individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Effects (FAS/E). The ability to access current and accurate information about FAS/E is critical in becoming a source of help and hope for children and adults living with FAS/E. Research has shown that even small levels of alcohol consumed during pregnancy may affect the fetus in damaging ways. In pregnant women, alcohol is not only carried to all organs and tissues, but also directly to the fetus and its developing tissues and organs. When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage, the concentration of alcohol in her unborn baby's bloodstream is the same level as her own. Unlike the mother, however, the liver of a fetus cannot process alcohol at the adult rate of one ounce every two hours. High concentrations of alcohol stay in the fetus longer, often for up to 24 hours. The unborn baby's blood alcohol concentration is even higher than the mother's during the second and third hour after a drink is consumed. Is there a safe amount of alcohol that a pregnant woman can drink?The best advice is not to drink during pregnancy. We do not know what is a safe level at this time, and it may vary considerably with different individuals. There appears to be no difference in the type of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, hard liquor) and its effect during pregnancy. Early exposure presents the greatest risk for serious physical defects, and later exposure increases the chances of neurological and growth deficiencies or miscarriage. How common are FAS and FAE?In the United States, full-blown FAS occurs in an estimated one out of every 750 live births. Less severe FAE occurs in about 10-12 live births out of 1,000 (36,000 babies per year). Among known alcohol-abusing women, however, FAS occurs in 30 percent of recorded live births. What are the problems of children born with FAS/E?Children born with FAS/E may have the following symptoms:
Can FAS/E be treated?Birth defects related to alcohol use are permanent. Children born with FAS/E remain below average in physical and mental development throughout their lives. How can FAS/E be prevented?Do not consume alcohol during pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that pregnant women will reduce or cease their alcohol intake if they are made aware of the harmful effects of alcohol on their babies. However, the most critical period of the fetus is in the first trimester when the mother may not even suspect she is pregnant. For such women, an early warning system is imperative. The best advice for a woman who drank before she knew she was pregnant is to stop drinking for the remainder of her pregnancy and get regular prenatal care. (The Arc www.thearc.org/info-mr) 8 Magic Keys: Developing Successful Interventions for Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/EffectsThere are many issues to understanding, living with, and working with children with Fetal Alcohol damage. This damage can affect all aspects of a child's life: home, school, community and work. While there is no recommended "cookbook" approach to working with children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects (FAS/E), there are strategies that work, based on the following guidelines: Key #1: Be ConcreteChildren with FAS/E do well when parents and educators talk in concrete terms; don't use words with double meanings, idioms, etc. Because their social-emotional understanding is far below their chronological age, it helps to "think younger" when providing assistance, giving instructions, etc. Key #2: Be ConsistentBecause of the difficulty students with FAS/E experience trying to generalize learning from one situation to another, they do best in an environment with few changes. This includes language. Teachers and parents can coordinate with each other to use the same words or key phrases and oral directions. Key #3: RepetitionChildren with FAS/E have chronic short-term memory problems: they forget things they want to remember as well as information that has been learned and retained for a period of time. In order for something to make it to long-term memory, it may simply need to be re-taught and re-taught. Key #4: RoutineStable routines that don't change from day to day will make it easier for children with FAS/E to know what to expect next and decrease their anxiety, enabling them to learn. Key #5: SimplicityRemember to Keep It Short and Sweet (KISS method). Children with FAS/E are easily over-stimulated; leading to "shut-down" at which point no information can be learned. Therefore, a simple environment is the foundation for an effective environment. Key #6: Be SpecificSay exactly what you mean. Remember that children with FAS/E have difficulty with abstractions, generalization, and not being able to "fill in the blanks" when given a direction. Tell them step by step what to do, developing appropriate habit patterns. Key #7: StructureStructure is the "glue" that makes the world make sense for a child with FAS/E. If this glue is taken away, the walls fall down! A child with FAS/E achieves and is successful because their world provides the appropriate structure. Key #8: SupervisionBecause of their cognitive challenges, children with FAS/E are naive about many daily life situations. They need constant supervision, as with much younger children, to develop patterns of appropriate behavior. When a situation with a child with FAS/E is confusing and the intervention is not working:
* These 8 Magic Keys were developed by Deb Evensen and Jan Lutke, 1997, Arc Northland, Duluth, MN, 800-317-6475 Local ResourcesHuman Development Center Lake County Public Health Cook County Public Health Regional Resources Arc Northland HaysKids (a non-profit, educational, assisted living center for State & National Resources PACER Center Minnesota Department of Health The Arc Disclaimer: Listing of resources and websites is for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not indicate endorsement of any resources or website. |
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