Kids with Fetal Kids with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Alcohol Spectrum

DisordersDisorders

What Is FASD?What Is FASD? Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

10%10%– Includes facial features, Includes facial features,

growth delay, brain growth delay, brain damagedamage

Fetal Alcohol Effect 90%Fetal Alcohol Effect 90%– FAS “without the face”FAS “without the face”

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisordersDisorders– Covers the Whole Covers the Whole

Spectrum of DamageSpectrum of DamageFAS

10%

FAE 90%

FASD Basic FactsFASD Basic Facts

The only thing that can cause FASD The only thing that can cause FASD is mom drinking during pregnancyis mom drinking during pregnancy

90% of kids who have fetal alcohol 90% of kids who have fetal alcohol brain damage have NO associated brain damage have NO associated facial features. It’s easy to miss facial features. It’s easy to miss these kids.these kids.

Facial features don’t necessarily Facial features don’t necessarily mean the damage is worse. mean the damage is worse.

FASD Facts, cont.FASD Facts, cont. FASD manifests itself mainly in FASD manifests itself mainly in

behavior, learning, and sensory issues.behavior, learning, and sensory issues. Most kids with FASD have IQ’s in the Most kids with FASD have IQ’s in the

normal range.normal range. The fetal damage from alcohol is far The fetal damage from alcohol is far

worse than other drugs.worse than other drugs. Many affected kids are also dealing Many affected kids are also dealing

with other difficulties: mental health with other difficulties: mental health issues, substance abuse, PTSD….issues, substance abuse, PTSD….

FASD Facts, cont.FASD Facts, cont.

FASD cannot be passed down to the FASD cannot be passed down to the next generation. If mom and dad next generation. If mom and dad both have FASD, the baby won’t both have FASD, the baby won’t unless THAT mom drinks during unless THAT mom drinks during THAT pregnancy.THAT pregnancy.

It’s not a “native problem.” FASD is It’s not a “native problem.” FASD is an equal opportunity destroyer.an equal opportunity destroyer.

It’s not a poverty-class problem. It’s not a poverty-class problem.

Why Women Drink During Why Women Drink During PregnancyPregnancy

May not know they are pregnantMay not know they are pregnant May be the only way they know how to May be the only way they know how to

deal with stressdeal with stress May be drinking alcoholicallyMay be drinking alcoholically May be with a partner who doesn’t want May be with a partner who doesn’t want

them to stop drinkingthem to stop drinking High percentage are victims of D.V. and High percentage are victims of D.V. and

abuseabuse May have FASD themselvesMay have FASD themselves

Learning ProblemsLearning Problems– Gaps in IQGaps in IQ– Memory problemsMemory problems– Can’t think abstractly; subtleties of Can’t think abstractly; subtleties of

language are baffling to them; concepts language are baffling to them; concepts evade themevade them

– Sloooow processorsSloooow processors– Don’t feel the passage of timeDon’t feel the passage of time– Don’t transition very wellDon’t transition very well– Inability to generalize informationInability to generalize information– May seem like they understandMay seem like they understand

Behavior ProblemsBehavior Problems

Brain wired poorly Brain wired poorly Can’t control impulsesCan’t control impulses Can’t connect cause/effectCan’t connect cause/effect Can’t think abstractlyCan’t think abstractly Moral chameleonsMoral chameleons Vulnerable to bad influences; followersVulnerable to bad influences; followers Experience secondary disabilities like Experience secondary disabilities like

depression and anxietydepression and anxiety Don’t always respond like we think they Don’t always respond like we think they

shouldshould

Sensory ProblemsSensory Problems

Can’t sit stillCan’t sit still Easily overwhelmedEasily overwhelmed Easily distractedEasily distracted Clumsy, poorly coordinatedClumsy, poorly coordinated Overly sensitive to light, sound, touchOverly sensitive to light, sound, touch Or…undersensitive to stimuliOr…undersensitive to stimuli Don’t feel their place in space; not Don’t feel their place in space; not

groundedgrounded May be irritated but can’t communicate itMay be irritated but can’t communicate it

DysmaturityDysmaturity

Chronological Age:Chronological Age: 1414 Developmental Age: Developmental Age: 88 Comprehension Age:Comprehension Age: 77 Verbal Skills:Verbal Skills: 1616

When to Consider an FASDWhen to Consider an FASD Not learning from experience; can’t connect Not learning from experience; can’t connect

behavior with consequencesbehavior with consequences ““Foolish” mistakes that may not even make senseFoolish” mistakes that may not even make sense Poor impulse controlPoor impulse control Requires constant supervisionRequires constant supervision Easily distractedEasily distracted Regular methods of discipline don’t workRegular methods of discipline don’t work Doesn’t recognize dangerDoesn’t recognize danger Poor social skillsPoor social skills Very vulnerable to peer pressureVery vulnerable to peer pressure Childlike innocence despite repeated offenses Childlike innocence despite repeated offenses

(may look like lack of remorse)(may look like lack of remorse) Confabulates; testimony seems odd or disjointedConfabulates; testimony seems odd or disjointed

What HelpsWhat Helps Keep sentences short, simple. Don’t ask Keep sentences short, simple. Don’t ask

leading questions.leading questions. Let go of your assumptions that may fit Let go of your assumptions that may fit

someone without brain damage.someone without brain damage. Check for understanding. They can Check for understanding. They can

parrot back what you say, but they may parrot back what you say, but they may not get it.not get it.

Reteach in different settings. They can’t Reteach in different settings. They can’t generalize.generalize.

Provide structure. Lots of it.Provide structure. Lots of it.

InterventionsInterventions

Think “cognitive wheelchair”Think “cognitive wheelchair”

Interventions that change the Interventions that change the environment rather than trying to environment rather than trying to change the personchange the person

Adjust expectations to fit what’s Adjust expectations to fit what’s really going on really going on

Think of What It Feels Like to Think of What It Feels Like to Be A Little Out Of StepBe A Little Out Of Step