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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Childhood Development:

Anytime alcohol has been consumed, it is critical that the baby be watched, nurtured, and encouraged for the first year. The organizing of brain cells occurs in the 1st year after birth, and there is still a possibility of encouraging those connections during this time.

Over the next few years, gaps in the child's abilities become more noticeable. From about the ages 0 to 6, one of the most important tasks for any child is to be adaptive and make sense out of the world. Children affected by alcohol can struggle with these tasks. At this stage, a child with FAS is about one year behind peers socially, physically and cognitively. (1)

From the ages of 6 to 12, things grow increasingly difficult for the child. Some have said that FAS "kicks in" when children hit puberty, but the truth is that their ability hasn't changed, it's just that society raises the bar and has higher expectations of children as they get older. While children affected by alcohol have lived just as long as other children their age, they haven't been as able to learn from their experiences. The fact that they don't reason very well can't be changed, but society's impatience with their lack of ability increases. These children now seem 2 to 4 years behind others their age. (2)

From the ages 12 to 18, the bar has been raised high. Children with FASD look and sound like everyone else. They copy what they hear, but many times don't really understand what they are repeating. Society expects regular behavior from a child their age, so the irritation factor is huge. When raising unaffected children, parents normally decrease supervision and increase expectancy as they age. But it's the opposite with FAS. Caregivers are needing to increase supervision and decrease expectancy as the child ages. Like it or not, caregiver's ARE the Aides to Daily Living for FAS children (as opposed to glasses or a wheel chair for the disabilities of other children.) FAS children now seem 4 to 10 years behind their peers. (3)

85% of those affected by alcohol will look and sound regular but can't meet society's expectations in a regular way. Frequently, those affected by alcohol don't know they aren't measuring up and many times don't understand why people get so frustrated with them. Most think they are capable of anything. At the same time, some are depressed because of the darkness in their brain. (4)

However, it isn't hopeless. While the condition is permanent, consistent repetition can help. New connections CAN be made, so the earlier children can be worked with academically, emotionally, spiritually; with a critical stress toward teaching self-discipline, the better the outcome.

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1. Berubi, Mary RN. Federal National Health. "Moving Forward with FAS." Community seminar sponsored by "Baby Biz." Lou Soppit Community Center. Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. 18 Mar. 2005.

2. ibid

3. ibid.

4. ibid.

FASD resources

Contact us at
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare

PO Box 253, Hillsboro, ND 58045 - 0253

writeus@caicw.org

WWW www.caicw.org