1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Robin Jones
Georgann Kennay

2. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Prenatal exposure to alcohol.
Lifelong physically and mentally disabling condition.
Not a single birth defect, but a cluster.

3. What Causes FAS? Mother drinks too much during pregnancy.
Alcohol is able to cross the placenta.
Fetus does not receive enough oxygen.

4. Prevalence of FAS
Every year 1 in 750 babies are born with full blown FAS.
Another 50,000 children are born with Fetal Alcohol Effects. (FAE)

5. Diagnosis Based on the evaluation of physical characteristics.
No actual psychological or behavioral tools to diagnose, but these types of tools can be used to corroborate medical opinion.

6. Characteristics that must be present…
Growth deficiency
Pattern of facial features and other physical abnormalities
Central Nervous System dysfunction
Strong evidence of maternal drinking (No diagnosis can be made without this evidence.)
FAE-Fetal Alcohol Effects

7. Physical Characteristics
Small head
Small for age
Deformed facial features
Abnormal joints and limbs

8. Additional Characteristics
Growth deficiencies
Central Nervous System Problems
Poor Coordination
Problems with learning
Short memory

9. Instructional Ideas Early intervention Functional skills
Communication skills
Social skills
Manage behaviors

10. Technology
Tape Recorders
Computers
Video Recordings
Visuals

11. Interesting Information
Completely preventable disease
Surgeon General issued the first advisory against alcohol in 1981
Alcohol use by pregnant women has declined since 1995
FAS is recognized as a leading cause of Mental Retardation (Burgess & Stroissguth, 1992)

12. Additional Resources
Kleinfield, J. & Wescott, S. (1996). Fantastic Antone succeeds: Experiences in educating children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Fairbanks, AL : University of Alaska Press.
Streissguth, A. & Kantor, J. (1997). The challenge of fetal alcohol syndrome: Overcoming secondary disabilities. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Streissguth, A. (1997). Fetal alcohol syndrome: A guide for families and communities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Mayo Clinic
Kids Health for Parents

13. Sources of Information
Burgess, D. & Strissguth, A. (1992). Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects: principles for educators. Phi Delta Kaappan, v74n1,
Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. As a matter of fact: Fetal alcohol syndrome. Retrieved May 17, 2004 from
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Retrieved May 17, 2004 from
Weber State University-Department of Child & Family Studies
A Pregnant Pause from
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Children’s Research Triangle from