Autism for the SLP

Dr.Price

What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)?

Range of disorders when a mother consumes alcohol while during pregancy

One of leading intellictual disabilites that are preventable

What is FAS

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

The most serious disorder

The only clinical diagnosis

What is FASD? Why do they call it this?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

There a various degrees of severity of fetal alcohol effects which then has led to the name

A group of symptoms (behavior and learning)

Depending on the charactersitics this determines their type of FASD

What is one thing that is common when a child has FASD? Even though every child presents differently.

1. Intellictual Disabilities and/or behavioral impairments

Is there a cure for FASD? If not, how can it be managed?

1. early intervention

2. lifelong support

Is FASD a mental health condition?

No, it is a neurodevelopmental birth condition caused by alcohol exposure in the womb

What are some physical common characterisitics of FASD babies?

abnormal facial features

low birth weight

small head

shorter than average-height

What are some medical common characterisitics of FASD babies?

vision or hearing problems

sleep and sucking problems as a baby

problems with their heart, kidney(s), and bones

What congitive impairments are common with FASD?

learning disabilities

problems following directions

difficulty understanding consquences to their actions

poor memory skills

hyperactive behavior

innattentivness

poor reasoning skills

speech&language delays

Behavior and Cognitive impairemnts because of FASD can lead to…?

poor academic achievement

social boundaries and rules (-)

poor social skills - which can lead to bullying and then they can get hostile and hyperactive

difficulty buliding peer relationships

its not common to see youth that have FASD’s who struggle with self regualation exhibit rule breaking that leads to trouble with the law

What kind of learners are FASD? And what does that mean

context-specific learners

which means they have diffculting applying information learned from context to another

What is ARBD?

Alcohol Related Birth Defects

heart

kidneys

bones

or hearing

(some can go hand in hand)

What are the four distinctions that qualify a person if they have FAS or not?

1. growth defincicies that stunt prenatal or postnatal growth

2. permanant brain damage resulting in nerologic abdomalities such as: a delay in development, intellictual disbailities, and or learning/behavior abilities

3. abnormal facial features

4. maternal use of alcohol during preganancy

individuals have a combination of medical, physical, mental and social difficulties that are common charactersitics of FASD

What structures of the brain are affected by fetal alcohol exposure that cause learning/behavior issues?

1. loss of tissue in the corpus callsoum (connects L and R hemi)

2. damage to basal ganaglia (emotions)

3. stunted growth to the cerebellum

4. damage to the CNS also can contribute difficulty to self regulation (hyperactivity and impulsitivity)

How many babies a year are born with FASD?

40,000 in the US- probably a lot more because a lot of woman fail to report

On par with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Is it true that external factors for a mother can contribute to the use of alcohol during pregancy?

yes

1. drug use

2. history of mental illness

3. prior treatment for alcohol abuse

4. un-employed not married

5. alot of mothers drink socially before they even know their pregant

so it could be possible to target specific women

What is the precentage of FASD children who grow up in foster care?

60% to 80%

due to the main reason of martental substance abuse

then it can be hard for the foster parents because of all the complications of raising a kid with FASD - impulsitivty and behavior issues (theft and shoplifting are common)

Are adolscents that have FASD acceptable to mental illness?

yes,

they have an increase risk for anxiety and depression because of their cogitive and realtional struggles compundeed with their heightend risk of negative behaviors

Is it true that when a person gets older with FASD its more obvious?

yes

they might act like a 6 year old child would act like in social situations

What is a critical period of time for a person with FASD in school?

elementary, middle and to high school

due to changing needs

schools need to be equipped with this knowledge and develop educationl plans for kids with FASD based on what area of the brain if not all were affected

Is it true that schools play a critical role in children with FASD?

yes

• they usally fall through the cracks ( are diagnosed with ADHD)

• schools are not eqipped with special need students

• kids need to be in special ed classrooms and if they arent they are at a higher risk for of developing long-term problems with education

What does a child with FASD need?

-early identifican (to provide serive right away)

-stable home enviorment (structure, positie relationships)

-special ed (they typically dont have low iqs and wont likely qualify for this service

-social services

-absence of violence (prevents them to carry their anger in different ways

What can SLPs do?

help correct language delays

reading

phonological processing

spatial and verbal difficulty

Is there any medication that helps specifically FASD?

no

but individuals with FASD can take medications that help with depression, anxiety, or impulsitivity

What kind of jobs can individuals with FASD hold?

structured jobs

less overload and stress

In conclusion, what does FASD cause?

medical

behavioral

social

congitive difficulties

what medications can help someone with FASD?

1. mood stabilizers

2. adhd medications (but have to watch for aggressive)