Meeting the Needs of Children and Families

Fetal Alcohol

Syndrome By, Huma Shaheen

Introduction

Two Boys have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS). The Foster parents have moved from North Bay to Toronto. Both boys show signs of cognitive delay and impulse control , and the parents are seeking advice on services in the Toronto area.

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

• When a woman drinks excessive amounts of alcohol while being pregnant• While the mother is drinking the alcohol transfers into the fetus and damages the child's development in the

mother’s womb • Growth, mental, physical problems that occur in a baby • Dr. Ann Pytkowicz Streissguth in 1980 revealed• “One half to one third of children are diagnosed with FASD”

Symptoms and SignsThere are many signs and symptoms that can

tell us if a child had FAS. These are as listed below:

• Deficiency in growth• Facial pattern(different)• Brain damage "

Sign show Cognitive Delay and Difficulty in Impulse Control

The Two main results of FAS are Cognitive Delay and Impulse Control.

• Cognitive Delay is when a child presents with mental retardation

• Difficulty in Impulse control is when a child is not able to follow through with rules or be able control him or her self when in any kind of situation The child may blurt out things, not show manners, have no patience and be very sensitive. Very Hard for them to control their feelings and actions. The alcohol impairs the child from good judgment and being able to stop and think.

Strategies for the ECE to meet the need of the children and Families

• The ECE has to make sure that they both have a secure and very comfortable relationship , usually happens at the first visit

• Children with FAS need more focus and attention • Love and care is a very important factor because it makes them

feel more comfortable and helps out• Make the parents aware of everything that their child does • Make sure that there are break in between so that the children

can catch and not feel overwhelmed• Sometimes children can stay focused or be calmed by soft music• Prompting and Fading• Reinforcement(increase self esteem)

Continue: • Seating the child close to you or anyone that is the center of

attention to keep focus• Use Visuals and concrete examples to get message across• When communicating talk slow • Help child control feelings and be able to control what they do and

feel• When starting new activities make sure that the child is informed• Help in transition(posters)• Prompting and Fading• • The child should be given choices and options so that they have

some sense of control but always keep an eye on it.

Best Environment for children with FAD

• The Environment has to be safe for the children, and also kept in a way that is easier for the children to be able to enjoy their stay at the childcare center. The ECE’s have to ensure that the children are getting what they need.

• The area has to be designed in a way that is properly accessible for the child to play and move around in( setting of tables, chairs, play toys and etc.) Signs also help a lot because the children can learn far better when they see visual

• The lights should be soft and easy on the eyes • Area should be clean and free of clutter • Well organized and in the same direction

Program Helpful in Learning Cognitive and Impulse control development

• Reading ( Picture Books, Large print, ) • matching and sorting activities• Play Dough• Music with Big actions and Dances(keep an

eye on it) • Hand on materials• Same pattern

Services to ParentsSt. Michael’s Hospital

Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic• A free Institute, only for those who have

an OHIP card, if you don’t then you have to make your own insurance

• Patients that have been referred by physicians get treatment

• Birth to 18 years old are treated to the specific clinics• Targets many mental health issues (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, etc.)• They help both the patient and also the family to understand the kind of

situation that they are • Help with information and are very open to any kinds of questions and

help needed • Consult to Dr. Brenda Stade

Contact

Contact Us- 416-867-3655, Fax- 416-864-587030 Bond St, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8Toronto Central (Church St and Queen St E)Hours - Monday-Friday 8-4

http://www.211toronto.ca/Gatekeeper?WebAppId=fht&RequestedSubmitAction=OrgInfo&searchKey=orgid&searchType=quick&searchValue=MET1084&searchAZSubject=&searchValuePrev=fetal+alcohol+syndrome&startIndex=1&sortBy=name&displayOption

=&boolOption=and&totalCount=3&recordPosition=3

http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/education/postgraduate/pediatrics.pdf#search="Fetal Alcohol Syndrome“

http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/research/profile.php?id=stade&

More info. For parents

Books1. Recognizing and managing children with fetal

alcohol syndrome/ Fetal alcohol effects: A Guidebook, Brenda McCreight.

2. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A guide for Families and Communities, Ann Streissguth, Ph.D.

Bibliography and Reflection

• Streissguth, Ann Pytkowicz. Fetal alcohol syndrome: a guide for families and communities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub., 1997. Print.

• McCreight, Brenda. Recognizing and managing children with fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effects: a guidebook. Washington, DC: CWLA Press, 1997. Print.

• Class Notes• Google Images