Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Robin Jones

Georgann Kennay

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

• Prenatal exposure to alcohol.• Lifelong physically and mentally disabling

condition.• Not a single birth defect, but a cluster.• http://departments.weber.edu/chfam/html/fas.html

What Causes FAS?

• Mother drinks too much during pregnancy.

• Alcohol is able to cross the placenta.

• Fetus does not receive enough oxygen.

Prevalence of FAS

• Every year 1 in 750 babies are born with full blown FAS.

• Another 50,000 children are born with Fetal Alcohol Effects. (FAE)

Diagnosis

• Based on the evaluation of physical characteristics.

• No actual psychological or behavioral tools to diagnose, but these types of tools can be used to corroborate medical opinion.

Characteristics that must be present…

• Growth deficiency• Pattern of facial features and other physical

abnormalities• Central Nervous System dysfunction• Strong evidence of maternal drinking (No diagnosis can

be made without this evidence.)• FAE-Fetal Alcohol Effects

Physical Characteristics

• Small head• Small for age• Deformed facial

features • Abnormal joints and

limbs• http://www.childstudy

.org/fas/facies/• http://w3.ouhsc.edu/f

as/

Additional Characteristics

• Growth deficiencies• Central Nervous System Problems• Poor Coordination• Problems with learning• Short memory

Instructional Ideas

• Early intervention• Functional skills• Communication skills• Social skills• Manage behaviors

Technology

• Tape Recorders• Computers• Video Recordings• Visuals

Interesting Information

• Completely preventable disease

• Surgeon General issued the first advisory against alcohol in 1981

• Alcohol use by pregnant women has declined since 1995

• FAS is recognized as a leading cause of Mental Retardation (Burgess & Stroissguth, 1992)

Additional Resources• Kleinfield, J. & Wescott, S.

(1996). Fantastic Antone succeeds: Experiences in educating children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Fairbanks, AL : University of Alaska Press.

• Streissguth, A. & Kantor, J. (1997). The challenge of fetal alcohol syndrome: Overcoming secondary disabilities. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

• Streissguth, A. (1997). Fetal alcohol syndrome: A guide for families and communities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

• http://www.worldprofit.com/other.htm

• http://www.acbr.com/fas/index.htm

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/

• The Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?

• Kids Health for Parents http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/fas.html

Sources of Information

• Burgess, D. & Strissguth, A. (1992). Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects: principles for educators. Phi Delta Kaappan, v74n1, 24-30.

• Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. As a matter of fact: Fetal alcohol syndrome. Retrieved May 17, 2004 from www.well.com/use/woa/fsfas.htm

• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Retrieved May 17, 2004 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/fasprev.htm

• Weber State University-Department of Child & Family Studies http://departments.weber.edu/chfam/html/fas.html

• A Pregnant Pause from http://w3.ouhsc.edu/fas/• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-

info/FAS/FAS.html#Note1• Children’s Research Triangle from

http://www.childstudy.org/fas/facies/