Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
This month at Fosterplus, we're spotlighting this often misunderstood condition and exploring ways foster parents can better support children with FASD.
Research has shown that FASD disproportionally affects looked after children. This month at Fosterplus, we’re raising awareness about this widely misunderstood condition and learning more about how foster parents can support children with FASD.
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by alcohol exposure in the womb. If a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, the alcohol passes through the placenta into the fluid which surrounds the foetus. This can lead to several outcomes including miscarriage, premature birth, or a baby being born with FASD.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause brain damage as well as a wide range of physical disabilities. The damage caused to the baby’s brain and body due to alcohol consumption in pregnancy is irreversible. FASDs are lifelong conditions which will affect a child in every aspect of their life.
The more alcohol a pregnant person consumes, the more likely it is that their baby will be born with FASD. Because doctors do not know how much drinking causes Fetal alcohol syndrome and its related conditions, pregnant women - as well as anyone who is trying for a baby or who may become pregnant - are advised not to drink.
Did you know?
It is believed that FASD is a widely undiagnosed condition, and that is frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD or autism. One study showed that as many as 17% of young adults in the UK may have been affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. The earlier a person is diagnosed, the more positive their outcomes as they are able to access the right support.
The different types of FASD
The different conditions under the Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder umbrella have some overlapping symptoms. The main types are:
FASD and development
FASD can lead to a wide range of physical, cognitive and behavioural effects. Children with FASD may have some or all of the following symptoms:
- Short height
- Low birth weight
- A smaller than average head
- Learning difficulties caused by organic brain damage
- Vision or hearing loss
- Distinctive facial features (a small upper lip, a smooth cupid’s bow, and small eyelid openings)
- Alcohol related birth defects which can affect organs, muscles, bones and limb formation
FASD and behaviour
There are a range of behaviours associated with Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Children with FASD may experience:
- Hyperactivity
- A short attention span
- Trouble sleeping
- Social difficulties
- Impulsive behaviour
- Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity
- Chronic short term memory problems
- Emotional and behavioural problems
- Struggling to understand cause and effect
- Mental health difficulties, such as anxiety or depression
- Developmental delays (for example, with speech or toilet training)
- Struggling to distinguish what is real from what is fabricated
Setting realistic goals for children with FASD
FASD is a condition which will affect children for their entire lives and at every stage of their development. It’s important to recognise that the challenges faced by children with FASD are caused by irreversible brain damage. This means that they may not have the ability to change some of their behaviours.
As written in EFAN’s excellent guide to supporting children with FASD, ‘Strategies not Solutions,’ children with FASD ‘benefit most by learning coping or adaptation skills that accommodate their disability… remember, we cannot change behaviour that is caused by organic brain damage. With support through structure, supervision, routine, and consistency, [children with FASD] may experience success.’
Supporting children with FASD
Every child with FASD will have unique experiences and their own level of ability. Because of this, it’s important not to take a one-size-fits-all approach when supporting children with FASD.
The strategies below, which are taken from the ‘8 Magic Keys’ system of support developed by Deb Evenson and Janice Lutke, are a great basis for supporting young people with FASD.
- Trusting relationships. Known as ‘The Master Key,’ trusting, reliable relationships are the backbone of supporting young people with FASD. Having a loving, dedicated foster parent can make all the difference to a looked after child with FASD.
- Supervision. Young people with FASD may need continual supervision and guidance to ensure that they are safe and that their behaviours are appropriate. Proper supervision allows them to be as independent as possible.
- Concrete guidance. Some children with FASD do not understand idioms and take language very literally. For example, if someone said something was a ‘piece of cake’, this might be confusing to them. It’s important to speak in clear, concrete terms without room for misinterpretation. Keep language and tasks simple to support children in retaining information.
- Consistency. Children with FASD need longer than others to commit information to their long-term memory store. Consistency and repetition in their environment, consequences and behaviours can be beneficial for young people with FASD.
- Specificity. Be specific in your instructions, and take things step by step. For example, rather than telling a child with FASD to get ready for school, walk them through each step of their morning routine and provide supervision and guidance where needed.
Looking for more advice on supporting children with FASD? We recommend reading our guide to fostering children with disabilities. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, give us a call on 0800 369 8512 or enquire via our online form to learn more about how you could help change the lives of children.
