Brain Development: Normal Processes and the Effects of Alcohol ...

prospective studies , hal f o f th e childre n wit h FA S
meet criteri a for mental retardation, an IQ < 70 on a
standardized measur e o f intelligenc e (Abel , 1998) .
There has also been discussio n of the effec t o f prenatal
exposur e to low or moderate levels of alcohol an d
most researc h studie s hav e reporte d tha t i n suc h co -
horts there is a decrement o f several IQ points (4 to 6)
attributable t o th e exposur e (e.g. , Streissgut h e t al. ,
1993).
Specific Cognitive Effects
In additio n t o moto r problems , function s that hav e
been examined an d appear to be affecte d b y prenatal
alcohol exposur e includ e specifi c deficits in visual -
spatial processing, arousal and regulation of attention,
w ; orking memory, planning an d organizationa l skills,
mathematical achievement , an d behaviora l regulation.
In reading the literature, it is important to examine
th e exten t t o whic h globa l deficit s hav e bee n
taken into consideration i n the interpretation o f "specific"
deficit s i n outcome . Individual s showing mental
retardatio n o r borderline intellectua l functionin g
(IQ