Body Features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)  

Face<BR><BR>Facial characteristics can be seen from birth and will tend to disappear with adolescence.<BR><BR><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f4f6"></FONT><IMG src="Images/Temp/Face.gif" border=0><BR><BR><STRONG>Effects on the Brain</STRONG> <BR><BR>People with FASD have cognitive defects in all areas of information processing, from receiving and storing&nbsp;to retrieving and expressing information.<BR><BR>In extreme cases the damage to the brain of a child can be extensive.&nbsp; (Picture two 6 week old babies)<BR><BR><IMG src="Images/Temp/HealthyAndDamaged.gif" border=0><BR><BR><STRONG>Regions of the Brain most Effected</STRONG><BR><BR><IMG src="Images/Temp/brain.gif" border=0><BR><BR><STRONG>Functional Damage</STRONG><BR><BR>FASD can result in the following:<UL><LI>Socially inappropriate behaviours<LI>Inability to apply consequences from past actions<LI>Difficulty generalising<LI>Difficulty with abstract concepts of time and money<LI>Difficulty processing information<LI>Memory i

Face

Facial characteristics can be seen from birth and will tend to disappear with adolescence.



Effects on the Brain

People with FASD have cognitive defects in all areas of information processing, from receiving and storing to retrieving and expressing information.

In extreme cases the damage to the brain of a child can be extensive.  (Picture two 6 week old babies)



Regions of the Brain most Effected



Functional Damage

FASD can result in the following:

• Socially inappropriate behaviours
• Inability to apply consequences from past actions
• Difficulty generalising
• Difficulty with abstract concepts of time and money
• Difficulty processing information
• Memory impediment - needs frequent cues
• Need for assistance with day-to-day living skills
• Needs to talk out loud, empty chatter, requiring feedback
• Fine motor skills are more affected than gross motor skills
• Moody
• Needs external motivators
• Difficulty relating to past and future, apparent lack of remorse

These examples emphasise the hidden nature of this disability and help explain why the behaviours of individuals with FASD are often misinterpreted as being within their control.

A person may have good expressive language ability and physical maturity but also have social, emotional anad cognitive skills well below their chronological age.

The difficulties will often become more apparent to parents and educators when a child reaches the age of 9-10 years.  This is when the expectations of the child increase and the child tends to fail in meeting the expectations of society.

Common strengths of a person with FASD may include:

• Highly verbal, artistic, musical, athletic or mechanical
• Outgoing, friendly, affectionate, determined, persistant, willing and helpful