Developmental Disorders ‘Should mothers of children with Fetal

Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) be prosecuted?

Presented by

Dr Jagjeet Jutley-Neilson,

Division of Psychology

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading

known cause of intellectual disability in

western civilization(World Health

Organization; DC&P; study by Ann

Streissguth)

Historical view of alcohol as a

teratogen

Foolish, drunken, or

harebrain women

most often bring forth

children like unto

themselves Aristotle in Problemata

Rosett, 1984

FAS Facts

• Alcohol diffuses through placenta

• Concentration in fetal blood is the same as in

the mother’s blood within a few minutes

• The fetus is able to metabolize alcohol 10% as

fast as the mother

Alcohol-Related Birth Defects

Include:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

1. Central nervous system problems

2. Low birth weight and height

3. Atypical facial features

Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)

– Results from maternal alcohol abuse but are found

in the absence of the full-blown syndrome

Narrow forehead

Short palpebral fissures

Small nose

Small midface

Long upper lip with

deficient philtrum

child with FAS

normal alcohol-exposed

mouse fetuses

The facial features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

can be seen in both a child and a mouse fetus

that were exposed to alcohol during development.

(source: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Science/curriculum.html

Courtesy of Ann Streissguth

Growing up with FAS

Brain damage resulting from

prenatal alcohol

photo:

Clarren, 1986

Corpus callosum abnormalities

Mattson, et al., 1994; Mattson & Riley, 1995; Riley et al., 1995

General Intellectual

Performance

FSIQ VIQ PIQ 40

55

70

85

100

115

Sta

nd

ard

sco

re

IQ scale

NC

PEA

FAS *

*

*

**

* *

Mattson, 1997.

Neuropsychological

Performance

Mattson, et al., 1998

Questions to ponder

• FAS and other alcohol-related birth defects are 100% preventable.

• What do we do with the mothers

– Is this a form of abuse

– Should the receive mothers receive the same treatment as someone who has physically or emotionally abused their child during infancy

– What do we tell expectant mothers ?

Careers: Clinical

Psychology • Clinical

• Educational

• Occupational

• Counselling

• Forensic

• Health

• Sport & Exercise

• Neuropsychology

• Teaching and Research

Help people who

have

• serious mental

illness

• depression

• anxiety

• child & family

problems

Careers: Educational

Psychologist Where?

Mostly for Local Education Authorities, some private,

in nurseries, schools, colleges, special units.

How?

Assess child’s learning problems and plan support.

May work with child, parents or school.

Write reports for SEN or courts.

Involved in policy planning.