Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Paper Example

Fetal Alcohol syndrome is a combination of both physical as well as mental birth deficiencies that occur as a result of women consuming alcohol during pregnancy. Taking alcohol such as wine, beer or both by a pregnant woman means that the baby is also taking. After consuming alcohol, the alcohol passes through the placenta of the pregnant woman and goes into the developing fetus. Therefore, the result may lead to the baby suffering from lifelong complications and damages. Fetal Alcohol syndrome is characterized by facial deformities, growth defects as well as brain damage. Additionally, liver, kidney, hearing problem and heart defects are also associated with FAS (May et al., 2014). Children suffering from FAS have challenges with learning, problem-solving, attention and memories. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a general term that describes various effects that can happen to individuals whose parents especially mothers consume alcohol when pregnant. The effects include FAS, Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorders (ARND) and Fetal alcohol effects (FAE)

According to the recent research, in every 100 live birth, there is always one child affected by the FAS. Moreover, the research reveals that in every year, there are cases of 40, 000 infants who are affected by the disease. Various research claims that individual who suffers from FAS can spend a whopping $800,000 health cost. In 2013, FAS cost the United States of America $ 5.4 billion with a direct cost of $ 3.9 billion while the indirect cost mounted to $ 1.5 billion. The recent studies reveal that physical, as well as behavioral changes, cannot be outgrown by children hence a lifetime disorder.

Background information and research on FAS

Fetal Alcohol syndrome is a combination of both physical as well as mental birth deficiencies that occur as a result of women consuming alcohol during pregnancy. Taking alcohol such as wine, beer or both by a pregnant woman means that the baby is also taking. After consuming alcohol, the alcohol passes through the placenta of the pregnant woman and goes into the developing fetus. Therefore, the result may lead to the baby suffering from lifelong complications and damages. Fetal Alcohol syndrome is characterized by facial deformities, growth defects as well as brain damage. Additionally, liver, kidney, hearing problem and heart defects are also associated with FAS (May et al., 2014). Children suffering from FAS have challenges with learning, problem-solving, attention and memories. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a general term that describes various effects that can happen to individuals whose parents especially mothers consume alcohol when pregnant. The effects include FAS, Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorders (ARND) and Fetal alcohol effects (FAE)

According to the recent research, in every 100 live birth, there is always one child affected by the FAS. Moreover, the research reveals that in every year, there are cases of 40, 000 infants who are affected by the disease. Various research claims that individual who suffers from FAS can spend a whopping $800,000 health cost. In 2013, FAS cost the United States of America $ 5.4 billion with a direct cost of $ 3.9 billion while the indirect cost mounted to $ 1.5 billion. The recent studies reveal that physical, as well as behavioral changes, cannot be outgrown by children hence a lifetime disorder.

1456115766A brief description of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

A fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the combination or range of problems that result when a fetus get exposed to alcohol by a pregnant mother. The disease occurred when a mother addicted to alcohol take it during the pregnancy and some alcohol content crosses the placenta hence mixing with the bloodstream of the baby. The alcohol, therefore, harms the development of the baby's nervous system which includes the brain. Additionally, the growing baby may become under-nourished which trigger changes in the development of the face of the baby, a condition known as FASD facial disorder.

Baby's that are severely damaged by FASD most of the time die before being born. Various conducted on FASD as reveal that there is no cure for the disease. Therefore, World Health Organization encourages pregnant women to avoid taking alcohol. The same sentiments are recommended by the NHMRC to be the safest way of preventing FASD. However, individual suffering from FASD can be assisted to learn and develop positive behavior that can help them become independent and achieve their goals in life. Pregnant women who are addicted to alcohol can be accurately diagnosed of FASD so that appropriate care can be provided to the unborn child. Moreover, the diagnosis can prevent the FASD from occurring during other pregnancies (Landgraf et al., 2013).

A brief description of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

A fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the combination or range of problems that result when a fetus get exposed to alcohol by a pregnant mother. The disease occurred when a mother addicted to alcohol take it during the pregnancy and some alcohol content crosses the placenta hence mixing with the bloodstream of the baby. The alcohol, therefore, harms the development of the baby's nervous system which includes the brain. Additionally, the growing baby may become under-nourished which trigger changes in the development of the face of the baby, a condition known as FASD facial disorder.

Baby's that are severely damaged by FASD most of the time die before being born. Various conducted on FASD as reveal that there is no cure for the disease. Therefore, World Health Organization encourages pregnant women to avoid taking alcohol. The same sentiments are recommended by the NHMRC to be the safest way of preventing FASD. However, individual suffering from FASD can be assisted to learn and develop positive behavior that can help them become independent and achieve their goals in life. Pregnant women who are addicted to alcohol can be accurately diagnosed of FASD so that appropriate care can be provided to the unborn child. Moreover, the diagnosis can prevent the FASD from occurring during other pregnancies (Landgraf et al., 2013).

-240915766The language development of children with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Children begin to learn the various languages the day they are born. While they are growing and developing, their speech, as well as language, increasingly becomes more complex. The children learn to have clear understanding language they are speaking and used it to express their feeling, ideas, and thoughts. The early stages of language and speech development play a fundamental role for children to know how to read and write. However, children suffering from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum (FASD) have the problem with language development (Blankenship et al., 2013) FASD have effects on the central nervous system thereby affecting brain development as well as the behavior disorders. Due to poor brain development, children tend to lack concentration, poor judgment, and impulsiveness. Therefore, children suffering from the FASD always have difficulty with the development of effective language. Most of the children communicate poorly with others, and the problem sometimes persists up to the old ages. Moreover, the problem of poor language development among children suffering from the FASD may also be as a result of inability recognized physical feature like written words as well as letters. Therefore, such children are not able to practice reading and writing that can help in boosting their language development. Consequently, a lot of efforts both in at home or in school should be put in place to assists children suffering from the disorder effective language development.

The language development of children with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Children begin to learn the various languages the day they are born. While they are growing and developing, their speech, as well as language, increasingly becomes more complex. The children learn to have clear understanding language they are speaking and used it to express their feeling, ideas, and thoughts. The early stages of language and speech development play a fundamental role for children to know how to read and write. However, children suffering from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum (FASD) have the problem with language development (Blankenship et al., 2013) FASD have effects on the central nervous system thereby affecting brain development as well as the behavior disorders. Due to poor brain development, children tend to lack concentration, poor judgment, and impulsiveness. Therefore, children suffering from the FASD always have difficulty with the development of effective language. Most of the children communicate poorly with others, and the problem sometimes persists up to the old ages. Moreover, the problem of poor language development among children suffering from the FASD may also be as a result of inability recognized physical feature like written words as well as letters. Therefore, such children are not able to practice reading and writing that can help in boosting their language development. Consequently, a lot of efforts both in at home or in school should be put in place to assists children suffering from the disorder effective language development.

763051031531Reference

Landgraf, M. N., Nothacker, M., Kopp, I. B., & Heinen, F. (2013). The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 110(42), 703.Mattson, S. N., Roesch, S. C., Glass, L., Deweese, B. N., Coles, C. D., Kable, J. A., & Jones, K. L. (2013). Further development of a neurobehavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 37(3), 517-528.

May, P. A., Baete, A., Russo, J., Elliott, A. J., Blankenship, J., Kalberg, W. O., & Adam, M. P. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 134(5), 855-866.

May, P. A., Blankenship, J., Marais, A. S., Gossage, J. P., Kalberg, W. O., Joubert, B., ... & Robinson, L. K. (2013). Maternal alcohol consumption producing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): quantity, frequency, and timing of drinking. Drug and alcohol dependence, 133(2), 502-512.Reference

Landgraf, M. N., Nothacker, M., Kopp, I. B., & Heinen, F. (2013). The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 110(42), 703.Mattson, S. N., Roesch, S. C., Glass, L., Deweese, B. N., Coles, C. D., Kable, J. A., & Jones, K. L. (2013). Further development of a neurobehavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 37(3), 517-528.

May, P. A., Baete, A., Russo, J., Elliott, A. J., Blankenship, J., Kalberg, W. O., & Adam, M. P. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 134(5), 855-866.

May, P. A., Blankenship, J., Marais, A. S., Gossage, J. P., Kalberg, W. O., Joubert, B., ... & Robinson, L. K. (2013). Maternal alcohol consumption producing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): quantity, frequency, and timing of drinking. Drug and alcohol dependence, 133(2), 502-512.383102131531Possible interventions

Promoting language and literacy development

Earlier literacy instruction

Literacy instruction during the preschool times can be beneficial because the problem of literacy and language development start to affect kids when they are admitted in preschool and if they are not assisted, it can affect the children throughout the entire life. Teachers together with the older children with proper language and literacy know-how may help the children with t...