fetal alcohol syndrome :: essays research papers

Fetal alcohol SyndromeWhat is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation in the U.S. today. FAS affects approximately 1 in every vitamin D born in North America. Mothers drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy causes FAS. FAS is characterized by Smaller heads Deformed facial features (small widely spaced eyes, growing jaw, thin upper lip, and before long upturned nose). Abnormal joints and limbs- these include deformities of the small joints of the hands as well as an incomplete rotation at the elbow. paltry coordination Problems with learning- difficulty sequencing, difficulty understanding cause and effect, and weak generalizing skills. Short memories Medical problems- vision problems, hearing problems, epilepsy, renal failure, heart failure, and death. Inappropriate behavior- poor impulse escort and poor judgement.How FAS Affects Functioning In SchoolBeginning with infancy, the children deplete problems at feeding and are highly irrita ble. They also exhibit unpredictable sleeping and take patterns, which make it hard for the baby to be cared for and for maternal bonding to occur. During development, both physical and mental, FAS children have very fine and poor motor coordination skills and it becomes very likely at the preschool age. They also are very affectionate but at the same time very hyperactive, which makes it a problem for the teachers who have them in rank to deal with. This is why they are, during the first few years of school, given the diagnoses of having attending-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) this diagnoses is given because of there high activity level, short attention span, and poor short term memory. Many of these children require special education help regardless of the fact that their IQ falls between the normal range. Their hyperactivity calls for them to receive special attention that normal teachers cannot and at most times will not give them. As FAS children grow into FAS adult s, their level of development and how they developed begins to show in everything they do. Since their neighborly and mental health has been compromised as adults they exhibit inadequate communication skills, impulsivity, poor judgement, trouble with abstract thinking, and limited problem solving skills. With all these problems they often have difficulty holding down a job because of their unreliability, lack of social skills, and functional illiteracy. Without appropriate support services, these individuals have a high risk of developing secondary disabilities such as mental illness, getting into trouble with the law, abusing alcohol and other drugs, and unwanted pregnancies.