FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS florida resource guide

Other Effects of Prenatal Alcohol ExposureExposure to alcohol while in utero does not always result in a childhaving FAS. Some children who are exposed have no lasting effects;others have partial manifestations of the disorder, most frequentlyCNS damage (Streissguth, 1997).Children with Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) may present with cognitive,behavioral, and psychological dysfunction that can cause lifelongdisabilities. Abnormal cognitive functioning manifests in a variety ofdomains, including mathematical deficiency, difficulty with time andspace, cause and effect, comprehension, and memory deficits. Further,children with FAE may demonstrate poor attention and concentrationskills, impaired judgment, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Conductproblems such as lying, stubbornness, stealing, and oppositionalbehavior are also present in some children with FAE (Streissguth,1997).Fig. 2 Diagnostic Classification of FAS & Alcohol-Related EffectsFAS with confirmedmaternal exposureFAS w/o confirmedmaternal exposurePartial FAS withconfirmed exposure*Alcohol-relatedbirth defects(ARBD)**Alcohol-relatedneurodevelopmentaldisorder (ARND)**AConfirmedExposure toAlcoholBFacialAnomaliesOR OR ORCGrowthRetardationDCNSAbnormalitiesECognitiveAbnormalitiesFBirthDefectsSECTION 1Overview of FetalAlcohol SpectrumDisordersWhile FetalAlcoholEffects does notinclude the fullbattery of physicalsymptoms seen inchildren with FAS,neither is itconsidered a lesssevere form of FAS.To the contrary,since they lackoutward signs, andconsequently are notperceived as havingbrain damage,children affected byFAE often havemore problematicexperiences in schooland as adults.— Streissguth, 1997*Partial FAS with confirmed exposure means there is confirmed exposure to alcohol, facialanomalies, and either C, D, or E, as indicated above.**Alcohol-related effects indicate clinical conditions in which there is a history of maternalalcohol exposure, and where clinical or animal research has linked maternal alcoholingestion to an observed outcome. There are two categories, alcohol-relatedneurodevelopmental disorder and alcohol-related birth defects, which may co-occur. If bothdiagnoses are present, then both diagnoses should be rendered.Adapted from Stratton, Howe, & Battaglia, 1996.FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS florida resource guide 9