1. FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME By Britney Flanagan

2. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? “A mother’s consumption of alcohol during pregnancy has been linked directly to the preventable conditions known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effect (FAE) in the unborn child.” (Marotz, Lynn R. Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child. Australia: Thomson Delmar Learning, 2009. Page 113. Print.)

3. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: An Overview A woman’s consumption of alcohol during pregnancy will likely harm the baby by transmission of alcohol from mother to baby via blood flow. Harm is done to the baby’s developing cells and commonly the brain and spinal areas. Risk is higher with heavier alcohol use, although any amount can have negative effects. Unfortunately, science hasn’t found a treatment to cure FAS or make symptoms less severe. Prevention is key.

4. Signs & Symptoms Babies & children who suffer from FAS tend to have disabilities relating to brain development: delayed growth, abnormalities of the brain & central nervous system, & facial malformations. Characteristics include but are not limited to: Low birth weight Mental retardation Heart defects Behavior/learning problems Droopy or short eyelids Thin upper lip Eyes set far apart Poor attention span/difficulty remembering

5. Management of Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome & Teaching Modifications Patience is critical when caring for a child with FAS. Early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment for FAS is important & increases child’s potential & success down the road. Teachers should maintain predictability in routines & activities. Teachers should limit distractions to help manage behavior & keep the child focused. Teachers should encourage & help develop social interaction & independence, but should be careful not to disrupt progress. Children with FAS tend to be more at risk for unintentional injury due to their lack of coordination, poor memory, & difficulties in understanding cause & effect; teachers should therefore, monitor children with FAS a little more closely than others.

6. To Address or Not to Address? As a teacher with a child in my class suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, I think I would brief my students on the topic before the child enters the class (assuming I would be given notice). I think it’s important for the other children to understand why the child is different from them & that it’s not his or her fault, but it’s something that they can help the student with. If they understand what the student has trouble with, i.e. focusing on school work, or poor coordination, they can help him or her with homework & not play so rough on the playground, etc. My “classroom” will be more like a school family & community & I will build this in multiple ways. In the school family, we are all accepting of each other & will try to make each other the best that we can be.

7. Bibliography 1)Marotz, Lynn R. Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child. Australia: Thomson Delmar Learning, 2009. 113-14. Print. 2)"Alcohol Effects on a Fetus-Topic Overview." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 28 Jan. 2012..