LEARNING CHALLENGES:
fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most commonly identifiable cause of mental retardation. Due to the fact that alcohol freely crosses the placenta, it has a range of effects on the developing fetus. These effects vary depending how much alcohol is consumed and during which part of fetal development the consumption occurs. The greatest risk of exposure is during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. In the US, 1 in every 500-1000 births is affected by maternal alcohol use.
Maternal drinking during pregnancy does not always result in FAS. Most children affected by alcohol exposure before birth do not have the characteristic facial abnormalities and growth retardation identified with FAS, but they do have brain and other impairments that are just as significant. These children are referred to as having Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND). This was formerly referred to as Fetal Alcohol Efffect (FAE).
Definition
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is formally defined by four criteria.
- maternal drinking during pregnancy
- characteristic facial appearance (which diminishes with time except for microcephaly)
- microcephaly (head circumference below 5th percentile)
- eyes widely spaced with short eye slits
- short, upturned noses
- thin upper lips
- flattened philtrum (groove in the midline of the lips)
- growth retardation
- brain damage, specific areas that are most commonly affected are:
- the basal ganglia, which are associated with memory and cognition
- the cerebellum, which controls balance, gait coordination and some cognitive functions
- in 7% there is an absence of the corpus callosum, the framework that links the two sides of the brain
Twenty to fifty percent of individuals with FAS also have
congenital heart defects, benign tumours of blood vessels,
genitourinary malformations and/or minor joint and limb abnormalities.
Vision and hearing complications are also common.
Developmental Course
Early development (birth to 2 years) shows delays in speech and language as well as low muscle tone associated motor delays. These problems recede somewhat by school age, and are manifested mostly as clumsiness and fine motor coordination problems.
By Kindergarten age, children with FAS/ARND show a wide range of intellectual functioning, but most exhibit mild mental retardation. They tend to have difficulties in executive function (involving planning, sequencing, self-monitoring and goal-directed behaviours). These difficulties will affect ability to follow classroom routines, independence in daily living skills and other adaptive behaviours and impede social skills development.
Students with FAS/ARND also commonly have significant behaviour
and emotional problems. Some of these problems are the result
of the cognitive impairments of FAS/ARND, but others are
directly related to the effect of alcohol on the fetal brain.
These problems include hyperactivity and impulsivity (different
from that seen in individuals with developmental delays)
and oppositional behaviour.
Dealing with FAS/ARND in School:
Strategies for dealing with students with FAS/ARND basically involve the following components: structure, consistency, repetition, being brief, persistent and ensuring variety.
Difficulties in classroom activities:
- structuring work time
- learning new material
- memorizing
- generalizing information learned to other subjects or applications
- attention, concentration
- impulsivity – tendency to not be fearful and not react to warnings
- social judgment is poor
- poor concept of money
- poor response to modeling – cannot internalize the modeled behaviour
- hypo- or hypersensitivity
- language production better developed than comprehension
- limited problem solving strategies
Strategies in the classroom
- offer the child choices to practice decision-making skills
- teach daily living skills
- teach new concepts visually
- use simple rules and repeat them using the same wording each time
- use predictable routines
- use advanced warnings for transitions
- chunk work into small portions
- redirect misbehaviour when possible
- notice and reward positive prosocial behaviours
- change rewards often to avoid loss of interest and saliency
- protect them from exploitation from negative peers, they are naïve
Contributed by Dr. Debra Lean, Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board
Useful Resources:
Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects
The Arc: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Resource Guide (.pdf) and Website
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
