DW (South Africa) – World in Progress: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects millions of kids in South Africa
When pregnant women drink alcohol, the impact on their babies’ health can be severe. In South Africa, more than ten percent of kids suffer from Fetal Alcohol symptome – the highest figure worldwide.
https://www.dw.com/en/world-in-progress-fetal-alcohol-syndrome-affects-millions-of-kids-in-south-africa/av-60239593
Irish Examiner (Ireland) – Foetal alcohol syndrome survey is ‘first of its kind’ A survey is being conducted to establish the experience of people living with or caring for someone with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Ireland. The move coincides with the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in recent days and against a backdrop of an estimated 600 babies a year being born here with FASD.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40780887.html
True North (Canada) – Theresa Tam advises “pregnant people” not to drink alcohol. Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Theresa Tam has recommended “pregnant people” avoid drinking alcohol to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome instead of simply referring to pregnant women.
https://tnc.news/2022/01/03/theresa-tam-advises-pregnant-people-not-to-drink-alcohol/
Insider – Is it okay to have an occasional glass of wine while pregnant? Here’s what the experts say
There are many parts of your life that may change during pregnancy, including your drinking habits. Official recommendations are to not drink while pregnant, yet as many as 10% of pregnant people say they have consumed alcohol at some point in their pregnancy.
https://www.insider.com/can-pregnant-women-drink-wine
The Goa Spotlight – No, it is not safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
A few days ago, the doctor specializing in Aesthetic Medicine Carla Barber assured from his Instagram profile -where he gathers almost a million followers- that his gynecologist allowed him to “take one or two glasses of wine a week ” while she is pregnant.
https://thegoaspotlight.com/2022/01/11/no-it-is-not-safe-to-drink-alcohol-during-pregnancy/
Association of American Universities – Thriving while living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Rothfuss’s 11-year-old son Heratio (whose last name his mother asked to withhold) has fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)—brain damage sustained in utero and traceable to pre-natal alcohol consumption.
https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/thriving-while-living-fetal-alcohol-spectrum
Vernon Morning Star (Canada) – WorkBC, FASD Okanagan help man overcome challenges
J.J. settles into a wooden chair and folds his hands at his waist. As he looks about the small meeting room, a sense of calm washes over him. He’s comfortable here. “I’ve been proving people wrong my entire life,” J.J. says from the FASD Okanagan meeting room.
https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/business/workbc-fasd-okanagan-help-man-overcome-challenges/
MATERIALS and VIDEOS
The Asante Centre – FASD RESOURCES FOR LEGAL AND JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS
People with FASD are disproportionately represented in our legal and justice systems, both as victims and perpetrators. It is important that professionals are aware of this, and are working toward an FASD-informed justice system.
https://www.asantecentre.org/fasd-resources-for-justice-legal-professionals
The Project – Hidden Epidemic Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Despite all the warnings, more than 50% of women still consume alcohol during pregnancy. Health experts warn it’s causing a hidden epidemic in children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd1yOhImDK
AEUFASD Alliance – FASD in the classroom Marta Astals Vizcaino is FASD Psychologist and Researcher at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona. FASD Unit coordinator at Barnaclínic (Hospital Clinic de Barcelona).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hppEw4CMRsY
Rural FASD Support Network – Dr Anik Gosselin – Mental Health and FASD. Dr. Gosselin shares how she diagnoses and supports individuals with FASD transition from a jail setting into the local community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC10V_3LOVI
Spotlight on FASD – Podcast Season 4, Episode 5 – FASD and Firesetting Behaviours
We’re back in conversation with Jerrod Brown, exploring FASD and Firesetting Behaviours. With Clare Devanney Glynn and Jessica Rutherford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUNhgNwy0VY
Spotlight on FASD – Podcast Season 4, Episode 6 – FASD and Sexually Inappropriate Behaviours
Continuing our series of conversations with Jerrod Brown, this time we’re exploring FASD and Sexualised Behaviours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH8gfHHeNac
Wonderland Child & Family Services – Prenatal Substance Exposure Informational Webinar
Learn more about prenatal substance exposure and its impact on our community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-k8Xwa5Axs
Spotlight on FASD – Podcast Season 4, Episode 7 – Prevalence of FASD in the UK
This week we’re chatting with Professor Penny Cook from Salford University, Principal Investigator of the UK’s first FASD prevalence study. Penny shares with us how the study evolved, the challenges faced along the way and what the findings mean for the future of FASD in the UK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjyhnum5Pw
Fasd Success Show – #090 Dr. Peter Choate: Trauma, FASD and Prevention
You know me. I’m a geek at heart. And I always say although I do know a lot about FASD, I’m not a doctor, a social worker, or a lawyer. That’s why I’m excited to bring you Dr. Peter Choate, a social worker, who has influenced my work.
https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/
RESEARCH
Sciences & the Law – Rates and implications of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among released offenders with mental disorder in Canada
We found the FASD group to have more than six impaired brain domains, greater than the other groups, and a higher prevalence of ADHD.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bsl.2557
Research in Developmental Disabilities – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders screening tools: A systematic review
Results highlight the vast differences in the screening approaches performance characteristics, and diagnostic criteria linked to FASD screening tools.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891422221003176
Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology – The Association Between Performance-Based Measures and Caregiver Ratings of Executive Functioning Among Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
The results of this study suggest that tests and caregiver ratings of executive functioning may not measure the same construct or other factors may be impacting the strength and significance of the relationship. Directions for future research and clinical implications are provided.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40817-021-00115-9
Healthcare – Understanding the Relationship between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Criminal Justice: A Systematic Review
In conclusion, it should be pointed out that FASD entails high public health costs, both regarding the support measures provided to the affected individual and to their family, as well as the cost and social impact of any criminal offenses committed.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/1/84
Child Neuropsychology – Parental interaction style, child engagement, and emerging executive function in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are known to experience cognitive and neurobehavioral difficulties, including in areas of executive function and social skills development.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09297049.2021.2023122
Behavioral Sciences and the Law – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and youth firesetting: A call on criminal justice, emergency responder, and fire prevention specialists to become informed
This article will outline key behavioral symptoms of FASD as well as provide first responders with suggestions as to how to best support individuals when FASD is suspected.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bsl.2553
Sensors – Pilot Study on Analysis of Electroencephalography Signals from Children with FASD with the Implementation of Naive Bayesian Classifiers
In this paper Naive Bayesian classifiers were applied for the purpose of differentiation between the EEG signals recorded from children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders (FASD) and healthy ones.
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/1/103
Drug and Alcohol Review – Why do women consume alcohol during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Individual beliefs, knowledge/advice, culture and personal circumstances influence alcohol use in pregnancy. Data are limited for reasons surrounding alcohol use while breastfeeding.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13425
Journal of the American Heart Association – Association of Alcohol Use Diagnostic Codes in Pregnancy and Offspring Conotruncal and Endocardial Cushion Heart Defects
Alcohol‐related diagnostic codes in pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of an offspring with a CHD, with a particular risk for endocardial cushion and conotruncal defects. The mechanistic basis for this phenotypic enrichment requires further investigation.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.121.022175
Speech, Language and Hearing – The orofacial, oromotor, speech, and voice characteristics of adolescents in youth detention: a comparison of groups with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
We identified high prevalence of orofacial, oromotor, speech, and voice anomalies among adolescents in youth detention. We discuss our findings in relation to our use of non-standardized assessment methods, assessment with Aboriginal young peoples, youth detention populations broadly being high-risk for health and developmental conditions, and the implications of the anomalies for the adolescents.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2050571X.2021.2022574
Available at SSRN – Early Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on the Developing Human Brain
Quantitative fetal neuroimaging can sensitively detect toxin-related alterations of human brain growth at early time-points even in structurally grossly normal-appearing fetal brains.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3987090
Behavioral sciences & the law – The imperfect fit: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as the basis to commit individuals involuntarily as sexually violent predators/persons
This article provides a framework for identifying, assessing, and deciding whether individuals with the FASD diagnosis suffer from the legally defined mental disorder that is necessary to indefinitely confine individuals as SVP.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bsl.2556
Pediatric Research – Family reflections: parents and caregivers of people with FASD: what research do we need?
These professionals, like us, were interpreting his behavioral differences as purposeful and psychologically motivated. They, like us, didn’t consider that his behavioral differences were examples of “can’t” do it, vs. “won’t.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-021-01926-4