Everything You Wanted To Know About FAS/FAE,
but were afraid to ask!

© 1999-2002 Teresa Kellerman - FAS Community Resource Center

A Message For Mom:
Alcohol exposure during pregnancy can cause mental retardation, hyperactivity, attention deficits, behavior problems, learning disabilities, memory deficits, birth defects, and death. If you are pregnant, or think you might be, stay alcohol free, for your good health, and that of your baby.

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading known cause of mental retardation in western civilization today. FAS affects more than 5,000 new babies each year in the U.S., and other neurological disabilities occur in as many as 50,000 more babies every year. There is no cure for FAS; but it is 100% preventable.

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FAS FACTS
About 25% of all babies are exposed to alcohol in utero. Some will have mental retardation, birth defects, ADHD, learning disabilities, behavior problems, memory deficits, and/or arrested social development. US taxpayers spend $2 billion dollars/yr to treat FAS. The lifetime cost for one child with FAS: $5 million.

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BABIES AT RISK!
Between 15% - 20% of women drink while they are pregnant.

Women at highest risk of having babies with alcohol related birth defects are those who smoke, are single, are students, have a college education, or with annual household income greater than $50,000.

Men at highest risk of fathering babies with problems include those
who drank heavily during adolescence and those who drank heavily
at the time of conception.
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STATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
Static Encephalopathy means permanent or unchanging brain damage.
The effects on development depend on the part of the brain involved
and on the severity of the damage. Developmental problems may
include cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, mental retardation,
autism, PDD, speech delays, attention deficits, hearing & vision
impairments, oral motor problems, and arrested social development.
The leading cause of developmental disabilities characterized by
Static Encephalopathy is consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
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FAS - SEVEN SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Structure with daily routine, using simple, concrete rules
Cues, reminders can be verbal, audio, visual, whatever works
Role models (family & TV), children learn what they live
Environment with low sensory stimulation (small classroom)
Attitude, understand organicity of behavior, not willful misconduct
Medication helps most children & adults (stimulant + antidepressant)
Supervision 24/7, due to impulse control & poor judgment for life
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FAS/FAE Developmental Levels
Physical maturity ===========================> 18
Expressive Language ============================> 20
Reading ability =========================> 16
Comprehension =========> 6
Money, time concepts =========> 8
Living skills ====================> 11
Emotional maturity =======> 6
Social skills =============> 7

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FAS LINKS
FASLINK SUPPORT: http://www.acbr.com/fas/faslink.htm
FASWORLD: http://www.fasworld.com
FAS FACT SHEET: http://www.ncadd.org/defects.html
FAS INFO: http://www.fasstar.com/fas
FAS RESEARCH: http://www.come-over.to/FAS/Research.htm
FAS NEWS ONLINE: http://www.come-over.to/FAS/Citizen/
FAS BOOKS & POSTERS: http://www.come-over.to/FAS/store
FAS EDUCATION: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/fas/
FAS RESOURCES: http://www.come-over.to/FAS/fasrefs.htm
FAS PIX & STORIES: http://www.come-over.to/fasstar/
Email Teresa Kellerman: tkellerman@mindspring.com