Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Signs, Symptoms, Effects, and Treatment
Using or abusing alcohol during pregnancy can cause the same risks as using alcohol in general. However, it poses extra risks to the foetus. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it easily passes across the placenta to the foetus. Because of this, drinking alcohol can harm the baby’s development.
A pregnant woman who drinks any amount of alcohol is at risk, since no “safe” level of alcohol use during pregnancy has been established. However, larger amounts appear to increase the problems. Binge drinking is more harmful than drinking small amounts of alcohol.
Timing of alcohol use during pregnancy is also important. Alcohol use appears to be the most harmful during the first 3 months of pregnancy However, drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy can be harmful.
Symptoms
A baby with foetal alcohol syndrome may have the following symptoms and visual disfigurations:
- Poor growth while the baby is in the womb and after birth.
- Decreased muscle tone and poor coordination.
- Delayed development and significant functional problems in three or more major areas: thinking, speech, movement, or social skills (as expected for the baby’s age)
- Heart defects such as ventricular septal defect (VSD) or arterial septal defect (ASD)
- Narrow, small eyes with large epicanthal folds
- Small head
- Small upper jaw
- Smooth groove in upper lip
- Smooth and thin upper lip
Treatment
There is no cure for FAS, because the CNS (Central nervous system) damage creates a permanent disability, but treatment is possible. Because CNS damage, symptoms, secondary disabilities, and needs vary widely by individual, there is no one treatment type that works for everyone. Disorders that can come with foetal alcohol syndrome often include ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) Games for life provide a non-medication alternative brain training to reduce certain symptoms that come with FAS
Possible treatment and therapy
Because any of the above named disorders can possibly be present it is best to treat them as you would individually. As in FAS, AD|HD maybe be present there are effective treatments proven by studies such as the use of Neurofeedback technology, which is the only non-medication based alternative shown to reduce core attention deficit disorders and difficulties which are shown to be strongly present in FAS children. There are therapies and coping strategy professionals for children with FAS and can be helpful for both the emotional issues and inattention difficulties related to the disorder.
CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy) – Cognitive-behavioural therapy encourages you to identify and change the negative beliefs and behaviours that are causing problems in your childs life. Since many individuals with FAS are demoralised from struggles and unmet expectations, one of the main goals of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to transform this negative outlook into a more positive, realistic view. Cognitive-behavioural therapy also focuses on the practical issues that often come with FAS and ADD/ADHD, such as disorganization, work performance problems, and poor time management.
Neurofeedback training – Neurofeedback training is a type of biofeedback that uses electroencephalography (EEG) to provide a brain wave signal that can be used by a person to receive feedback about brain activity. In the case of someone with FAS and showing symptoms of ADHD’s brainwaves indicative of focus and attention can be filtered and used in a real time graph or at Games for Life we use this particular brain wave to move around and control animated characters in a computer game. Kind of like taking your brain to the gym you are exercising your attention by being made aware of it and how to control it
Specialist Coaching – Coaches work with clients to help them better manage time, organize, set goals and complete projects. In addition to helping parents understand the impact ODD has had on their and their child’s life. Coaches can help clients develop “work-round’s” strategies to deal with specific challenges, and determine and use individual strengths. Coaches also help clients get a better grasp of what reasonable expectations are for them as individuals.
