Alcohol Related Defects and Disorders

This page covers most common disorders associated with mother consuming alcohol during pregnancy.  It is highly recommended to stay away from alcohol during pregnancy since this may cause permanent disability or developmental delays for the baby. Some of the common alcohol related defects and disorder are:

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Alcohol-related Neuro-developmental Disorder
• Partial FAS (P FAS)

From: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/2/358.full

 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS): General Information

An alcohol related disorder which stunts fetal growth or weight, creates distinctive facial stigma , and damages, neurons and brain structures, resulting in psychological or behavioral problems. The disorder’s main effect is permanent central nervous system damage, especially to the brain, creating an array of primary cognitive and functional disability such as poor memory, attention deficits, and poor cause-effect reasoning as well as secondary disabilities, such as drug addiction.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_syndrome

FAS In The Classroom

From: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/fas/teachstu.htm

FAS Resources

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

http://www.nofas.org/

FAS Family Resrouce Institute

http://www.fetalalcoholsyndrome.org/index.php/page/resources

 

Alcohol-related Neuro-developmental Disorder: General Information

An alcohol related disorder characterized by central nervous system damage; rather than growth deficiency or FAS facial features. (Wikipedia)

The patients may have developmental disabilities such as structural and/ or functional central nervous system dysfunction with behavioral and learning disabilities (NOFAS)

From: http://www.nofas.org/faqs/what-is-alcohol-related-neurodevelopmental-disorder-arnd/ and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder#Alcohol-Related_Neurodevelopmental_Disorder_.28ARND.29

Alcohol-related Neuro-developmental Disorder in The Classroom

Children with the disorder may be weak in various areas, including poor attention skills, deficit gross motor skills and low memory. To help students become more focused in the classroom, the educator should provide frequent breaks during class time since students with Alcohol-related Neuro-developmental Disorder’s concentration spam do not last for the entire class. To improve the students’ gross motor skill, the educators should provide assistive devices, such as pencil grips and various sizes of writing instruments. Assistive technology and computer should also be present to facilities the learning process.  To address memory deficiency the educator should use repetition, concise and simple instructions as well as graphic organizers. Keep in mind that students affected by the disorder have the ability to learn. (OTF) Teachers should try harder to help them understand the concepts they are trying to deliver. 

From: http://www.teachspeced.ca/index.php?q=node/732

ARND Resources

Public Health Agency of Canada: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/dca-dea/prog-ini/fasd-etcaf/index-eng.php

FASlink Fetal Alcohol Disorders Society
http://www.faslink.org/

Partial FAS(p FAS): General Information

An alcohol related disorder that assembles FAS. It is characterized by a lack of growth deficiency or the complete facial stigmata and central nervous system damage that is the same level as FAS people affected by the disorder have the same functional disabilities as FAS but appear to be less severe (Wikipedia)

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder#Partial_FAS_.28pFAS.29

Diagnosis

The suspected patient must met all of the criteria below to be diagnosed with partial FAS.

Diagnosis
Criteria	Explanation
Growth deficiency	Growth or height of the patient ranges from normal to deficient.
FAS facial features	Two or three of the FAS facial features are present in the patient.
Central nervous system damage	Should be diagnosed by a clinical staff. Significant  structural , neurological or functional impairment in three or more of the ten brain Domain
Parental alcohol exposure	The patients’ mother must be confirmed of alcohol exposure, during pregnancy.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder#Partial_FAS_.28pFAS.29

 

p FAS Resources

Alberta Education: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/fasd.aspx

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder @Toronto FASD Coordination Network
http://www.torontocas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/FASD.pdf