Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is an disorder arising from fetal abnormalities which were caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Abel and Sokol (1991) have noted that the condition is increasing in American newborns and that the incremented annual cost of treating this disorder is estimated at $74.6 million. About 78% of this economic burden is associated with care of FAS cases with mental retardation and low birth weight. Hatfield (1986) has stated that the last 10 to 15 yrs have

provided a growing body of evidence that demonstrates a distinct relationship between excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy and birth defects. Indeed, she reports that in light of this voluminous quantity of research, no responsible health professional or researcher would deny that alcohol can cause fetal abnormalities if consumed chronically and in large quantities.

Alcohol appears to effect the fetus directly; for example, Clarke-Stewart, Friedman and Koch (1985) reported that in a study of pregnant women who drank an ounce of 80 proof vodka, the fetus of every woman momentarily stopped breathing at some point between 3 and 30 minutes after the alcohol was ingested.

Niermeijer (1984) reviewed the literature on the role of genetic factors in the development of alco

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re a valuable supplement to standard intellectual measures for assessing alcohol effects because they are less vulnerable to the influence of cultural and educational experiences. Wescott (1991) has pointed out that there are many educational programs used to remediate conditions associated with FAS. These include consistent routines, multisensory cues to prompt memory, problemsolving training to recognize options, and emphasis on social skills and daily living situations. D'Entremont (1990) has discussed the kind of educational programs most needed by FAS children. She states that children with FAS often do not pick up skills from their environment as easily as some of their peers; as a result they often need to be specifically taught behaviors that other children seem to pick up naturally. For this reason, D'Entremont states that these youngsters need to learn to turn for help to Elementary and Secondary Education. Also, children need to learn how to match body motions to the requirements of the situation. Through programs developed to meet these goals, FAS youngsters will be given the opportunity to meet success and, hopefully, with these successes a positive selfimage will develop. Ediger (1991) feels that school
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Approximate Word count = 2198
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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