FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderAngela Bennett, Chris Cheung, Vanessa

Menendez, & Alex Morrison

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

What is FASD?

• Range of exceptionalities resulting from alcohol exposure during pregnancy (Public Health Agency of Canada)

• This includes: – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopment Disorder (ARND) – Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) – Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

Spectrum of FASD

• Effects of FASD vary from mild to severe deficiencies that may include (Public Health Agency of Canada):– Physical disabilities– Brain/Central nervous system dysfunction– Cognitive issues– Behavioural issues– Emotional issues

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

Activity

Quiz Time(Public Health Agency of Canada)

True: Lasso

False: Ninja Hands

Quiz

Q1: FASD describes a range of disabilities that result from exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.

A: (TRUE)

Quiz

• Q2: The medical diagnoses of FASD include:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Partial FASD (pFAS) Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)

Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

A: (TRUE)

Quiz

Q3: FASD is the leading known cause of preventable

developmental disability among Canadians.

A: (TRUE)

Quiz

Q4: It is estimated that FASD affects approximately 0.1%

(1 in 1000) of the Canadian population.

A: (FALSE: It is estimated that FASD affects approximately 1%, or 1 in 100 of the Canadian Population, more than muscular dystrophy, down syndrome, and spina bifida

combined)

Quiz

Q5: FASD can be cured.

A: (FALSE: FASD can not be cured and has a lifelong impact on individuals, families and society)

Quiz

Q6: The effects of FASD, including-alcohol related birth defects, can vary from mild to severe.

A: (TRUE)

Quiz

Q6: The annual cost of FASD in Canada is estimated to be between 4 to 8 billion dollars.

A: (TRUE: Based on the currently accepted prevalence rate of 1%, the annual cost of FASD in Canada has been

estimated to cost between $4 billion and $7.6 billion)

CanFASD: http://www.canfasd.ca/research-teams/prevalence/

Cost of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Stade et. al, 2007): http://www.cfp.ca/content/53/8/1303.full

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

Activity

Symptoms?

Place your symptom as either:• FASD related (Left of the screen)• Not FASD related (Right of Screen)

Physical Characteristics

Physical• Smooth philtrum (crevasse above upper lip)

• Microcephaly (small brain)

• Growth deficits

• Small eye slits opening

Intellectual & Behavioural Characteristics

Intellectual • Poor motor control

• Memory problems

• Impaired judgement

• Learning disabilities

• Difficulties with speech and language

• Inconsistence performance

• Reasoning difficulties

• Difficulty understanding others

• Academic difficulties

Behavioural• Poor impulse control

• Attention deficits

• Volatile emotions

• Easily distracted

• Poor organization

• Difficulty shifting focus

• Poor adaptation to stimuli

• Poor social skills

• Poor time management

• Difficulty planning

What to Look for?

Adaptation: Student’s reactions to the world is at an age appropriate level

Language: May have difficulty understanding and using language, comprehension, and subtleties

Attention: May exhibit symptoms like ADHD/ADD, showing impulsivity or inattentiveness

Reasoning: May not be able to use information received, trouble accessing/applying information

Memory: May exhibit memory loss

Sensory Processing Disorder: Misinterpretation, hyper- or hypo sensitivity issues.

FASD ONE: http://www.fasdontario.ca/cms/service-areas/education/

A–L–A–R–M-S

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

Activity

Group Work!• Find your group, either environmental or

behavioural• In 15-20 minutes, identify some modifications

or strategies that can be made:– Environmentally (visual, auditory, etc.)– Behaviourally (Teacher, student, class dynamics

etc.)• In 1 minute, summarize your answers to the

class

Environmental

Reduce visual and auditory distractions• calm colours

• reduce brightness of classroom lighting

• moderate heating

• have pets/plants to help students relax

• keep consistent seating assignments

• have FASD students sit near the front

• arrange desks in a horse-shoe shape to keep the focus on the teacher

• eliminate distractions (e.g., mobiles)

• use bulletin boards

• store materials out of sight

• use tennis balls on the feet of chairs

• allow use of headphones for quiet time

• provide a quiet space in the classroom to relax

• tape an area around a student’s desk to define personal space

Use Visual cues and tools• use photographs to show where things

belong• have a visual cue to reduce talking• frame the top of a student’s desk with

colored tape to remind them to focus

• colour coded calendars• have a homework section on the board

Teaching & Student Behaviours

Have Teaching routines• restroom/water breaks – signal with the

hand instead of asking• allow students to keep water at their desks

to reduce water breaks• teach students to walk one square away from

the wall, keep their hands to themselves, and the teacher should walk in the middle to easily monitor students

• have the same staff working with the student• build in desk/locker cleaning time• help students learn to organize• have students sharpen pencils at once • peer tutoring

Clear Communication• eye contact• speak at the student’s level• use clear and brief phrases• tactile examples

• present one step at a time and check for understanding frequently

• use demonstrations, pictures, and visual cues• use concrete learning examples

https://education.alberta.ca/media/377037/fasd.pdfhttp://www.usd.edu/medical-school/center-for-disabilities/upload/fasdeducationalstrategies.pdf

What is FASD?

Facts about FASD

Characteristics of FASD

Teaching Modification

s and Strategies

Conclusion

Food for Thought

“Most women quit drinking when they realize that they are pregnant.” - Donna Clarke-McMullen, RN, MN, Clinical Educator, Mental Health Program, Kingston General Hospital

“There are many many cases of heavy drinking in the first trimester of pregnancy before a woman is actually aware that she’s pregnant.”

- James Reynolds, PhD, Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University

Remember: Many women who drink while pregnant are not aware that they are pregnant. A non-judgmental approach towards parents is of critical importance in a school setting.

“There’s no so-called ‘safe period’ during embryonic fetal development of the brain where alcohol exposure can occur without potential injury to that developing brain.”

-Jim Brien, PhD, Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University

Remember: Education and prevention are the most effective methods of reducing the instances of FASD.

Food for Thought

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9UddqdZV7c