FASD

characteristics

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects are characterized by a series of physical abnormalities and impairments, as well as cognitive, or intellectual, deficits. Alcohol-exposed children typically show unusual facial features, low birth weight and damage to the central nervous system. The type and extent of disability will vary based on the time and length of exposure, as well as individual differences in the child.

Typical Child Alcohol-Affected Child Differences: lowset ears flattened midface small eye openings drooping eye lids thin upper lip wide nose bridge absent or flat groove between the nose and upper lip

Physical indications

• may have unusual facial features (see images below)
• low birth weight and continued small size until puberty, when catch-up growth is common
• heart and skeletal abnormalities
• Central nervous system damage
• small head circumference
• structural abnormalities of the brain

• may be delayed
• memory problems include difficulty learning and remembering information
• working memory ability may be less than chronological (actual) age
• learning disorders at school age, better in reading and language, often poorer in math
• can include mild mental retardation (IQ under 70) or low intelligence (IQ 70 to 85)
• often hits what is called a “3rd grade wall” when facts and figures (concrete operations) move on to thinking (analytical) skill

• delays in fine motor skills, such as holding objects
• poor gross motor skills, such as walking or running
• hand tremors

Medical problems

• such as ear infections, allergies, and asthma
• weak at sucking and grasping a nipple in infancy
• decreased appetite or difficulty retaining food
• mouth instead of nose breather
• sleeping problems, such as trouble going to sleep and short periods of restless sleep

Visual/spatial skills

• poor perception of visual information
• difficulty understanding spatial relationships
• Trouble planning and organizing
• difficulty remembering several steps of a task
• can't remember order of steps

Auditory Processing

• unable to understand some sound sequences
• Judgment/behavior problems
• failure to learn from experience
• does not develop logical approach to problems

Attachment disorder

• indiscriminate attachment to people or objects
• failure to attach to people or objects