The Impact of Alcohol on Children - 2006
It is a well known fact that when you drink when you are pregnant your baby does to. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and every drink has the potential to harm your baby.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term for all the different types of brain damage that children can suffer with alcohol use in pregnancy. Some of the damage is physical, for example unusual facial features but most damage is hidden and shows itself as behavioural problems.
Behavioural signs of FASD in children include; Attention and focus issues. These children can be agitated and hard to settle. They often talk too much, act without thinking and are easily distracted. They often have difficulty calming themselves. Education Problems. It is often difficult for these children to learn routines, parents have to constantly remind the child what needs to happen in the morning, or they always need reminding to bring home their work. These children frequently have difficulty with the concept of time and find it difficult to wait, or remember to eat when they are hungry or put on warm clothes when they are cold. They can be slow learners and lack motivation. Social Issues. These children often have difficulties making and keeping friends. They have trouble learning from their mistakes and can require close supervision as they may act “thoughtlessly” or take risks. They often have tantrums. Emotional Concerns. These children are often easily upset in noisy, highly stressful or stimulating environments (for example, school, supermarkets or other busy places). They can respond by having a tantrum, or being ‘silly’ and upset or withdrawn and reserved. Sometimes they are overly sensitive to touch, (for instance not liking the feeling of hats or tight clothes), movement, sights and smells. They can overreact or under-react to pain. They frequently have a lot of difficulty going to sleep. They can find it difficult to cope with changes in routine and have a low frustration level.
Because the effects on alcohol on the developing brain can have many different effects some children may have some of these symptoms and some may have most of them. It is important to remember that they are not behaving in a difficult manner on purpose but because they have permanent brain damage. As parents we need to learn to focus on changing the behaviours we don’t like while loving and supporting our wonderful children. We need to have realistic expectations (they are often unable to act as maturely as other children their age), and try to maintain a calm and predictable family life. These children need extra help to understand and express their feelings and we need to find ways to help them feel good about themselves.
Children with FASD will find it harder to learn new skills and change their behaviours compared with other children who do not have damage. Parents can seek help for themselves and their families through their GP’s, family support agencies, and specific groups such as http://www.fast.org.nz/ who provide information for families about FASD.