Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
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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 OMalley, 2000)

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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)

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure
• Growth retardation
• Central nervous system (CNS) disorders
• Facial dysmorphia

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FAS and Facial Dysmorphia
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FAS and Brain Damage
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Other Disorders on the Spectrum

• Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder
  (ARND)
• Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
• Partial FAS (pFAS)

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• What is the prevalence rate?
• How do you get FASD?
• Why isnt it so well known?

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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.

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• FASD IS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE.

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• Exposure to alcohol in the womb may compromise
  the
• cognitive, social, and emotional development of
  the unborn child.

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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

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Behavioural Characteristics

• Often identified in school as having ADHD
  (problems with attention, impulsivity, executive
  functioning)
• Poor memory often makes meting out consequences
  ineffective

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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

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General Teaching Techniques for Students with FASD

• Know the students 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).

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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 couldnt
  help it or It was somebody elses fault.

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Common Accommodations for Secondary Students with
FASD

• Extra time for examinations
• Resource room for 11 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

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• What do we know about the educational
• experiences of individuals with FASD?

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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

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Parent Advocacy

• Four dimensions
• Awareness
• Information seeking
• Presenting the case
• Monitoring

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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.

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In conclusion

• Support for parents
• Support for students
• Support for research
• Prevention

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• THANK YOU!