A SMALL PEBBLE IN A POND:: FASD Awareness

September 9th is National FASD Awareness Day. Here is one video about a mother who's son was diagnosed with an FASD.

What is FASD?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FASD: is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.

FASD includes conditions such as:
¨ Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
¨ Partial fetal alcohol syndrome (PFAS)
¨ Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)
¨ Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD)
Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) * obsolete terminology.

What Are the effects of FASD?

The effects of FASD vary among affected individuals.
Outcomes associated with FASD can include:
¨ Specific facial characteristics
¨ Growth deficits
¨ Mental Retardation
¨ Heart, lung, and kidney defects
¨ Hyperactivity & behavior problems
¨ Attention & memory problems
¨ Poor coordination or motor skill delays
¨ Difficulty with judgment and reasoning
¨ Learning disabilities

“Of all the substances of abuse (including cocaine,
heroin and marijuana), alcohol produces by far the
most serious neurobehavioral effects in the fetus.”
Institute of Medicine, 1996.

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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

FASD Awareness

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