Intervention for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders

2010

Mary O'Connor
[email protected]
310-206-6528

Exposure to alcohol in utero is considered to be the leading cause of developmental disabilities known to etiology. The most severe consequence of such exposure, fetal alcohol syndrome, is characterized by a distinct constellation of characteristic facial anomalies, growth retardation, and central nervous system dysfunction. Some individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure do not meet the full criteria for FAS, but instead are diagnosed with partial FAS, alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder, or alcohol related birth defects. The entire continuum of effects from PAE is increasingly being referred under the umbrella term of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. An extensive body of research has documented major cognitive, behavioral, adaptive, social, and emotional impairments among individuals with FASDs. Although FAS was identified in the US over 35 yeas ago, the development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions for individuals with FASDs have lagged behind significantly. Encouragingly however in recent years there has been a marked increase in efforts to design and test intervention to remediate the impairments associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. This article will review treatment needs and considering for individuals with FASDs and their families, current empirically tested treatment approaches, case management issues, and suggestions for future directions in research on the treatment of FASDs.

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

Professionals

N/A