Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Article from Alaska
From the Anchorage Daily News
Fetal alcohol syndrome a big problem in Alaska
The Associated Press
Published: January 29, 2007
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Laura and Larry Rorem remember the day their son was humiliated by his own teacher.
Unaware that he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the teacher pinned his class work to his shirt, marked it with a large red "F" and made him wear it around school.
The Rorems were among the 250 people who gathered in Juneau last week to discuss the disorder.
"If you don't know how to deal with FASD, it can bring out the worst in you," said Larry Rorem.
Alaska has one of the highest fetal alcohol spectrum disorder rates in the country, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Recent studies show 140 children in 10,000 are born with FASD in Alaska. More than 16 in 10,000 are born in Alaska with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the more serious of the disorders.
The disorder is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Fetuses cannot process alcohol and it stunts the developing nervous system.
In Alaska, many of the mothers are alcoholics and come from poor families of Native origin, said Dr. George Brown of Glacier Pediatrics in Juneau.
"Once it happens, it cannot be reversed," Brown said. "Not drinking during pregnancy is the only way to prevent it."
FASD brains are smaller than normal brains. The neurons aren't completely developed, the lobes are sometimes unconnected and the brain may even be covered with holes.
The severity of birth defects range from a slight reduction in a person's IQ level to heart problems, severe mental retardation and facial deformities.
Other defects include comprehension and memory problems, behavioral problems, problems interpreting other people and loss of impulse control.
Alcohol-related birth disorders are totally preventable, however, mothers of children with FASD should not be blamed, disorder experts say.
"A large portion of the women who drank didn't know they were pregnant," said Ric Iannolino of the Juneau FASD Diagnostic Clinic.
Some of the worst effects of FASD, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, happen between the 18th and 24th day of pregnancy.
Iannolino said some sufferers of FASD learn to adapt, while others never gain independence. Some become homeless and others wind up in prison.
Fetal alcohol syndrome a big problem in Alaska
The Associated Press
Published: January 29, 2007
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Laura and Larry Rorem remember the day their son was humiliated by his own teacher.
Unaware that he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the teacher pinned his class work to his shirt, marked it with a large red "F" and made him wear it around school.
The Rorems were among the 250 people who gathered in Juneau last week to discuss the disorder.
"If you don't know how to deal with FASD, it can bring out the worst in you," said Larry Rorem.
Alaska has one of the highest fetal alcohol spectrum disorder rates in the country, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Recent studies show 140 children in 10,000 are born with FASD in Alaska. More than 16 in 10,000 are born in Alaska with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the more serious of the disorders.
The disorder is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Fetuses cannot process alcohol and it stunts the developing nervous system.
In Alaska, many of the mothers are alcoholics and come from poor families of Native origin, said Dr. George Brown of Glacier Pediatrics in Juneau.
"Once it happens, it cannot be reversed," Brown said. "Not drinking during pregnancy is the only way to prevent it."
FASD brains are smaller than normal brains. The neurons aren't completely developed, the lobes are sometimes unconnected and the brain may even be covered with holes.
The severity of birth defects range from a slight reduction in a person's IQ level to heart problems, severe mental retardation and facial deformities.
Other defects include comprehension and memory problems, behavioral problems, problems interpreting other people and loss of impulse control.
Alcohol-related birth disorders are totally preventable, however, mothers of children with FASD should not be blamed, disorder experts say.
"A large portion of the women who drank didn't know they were pregnant," said Ric Iannolino of the Juneau FASD Diagnostic Clinic.
Some of the worst effects of FASD, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, happen between the 18th and 24th day of pregnancy.
Iannolino said some sufferers of FASD learn to adapt, while others never gain independence. Some become homeless and others wind up in prison.
# posted by Kari @ 6:05 AM 
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Unaware that he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the teacher pinned his class work to his shirt, marked it with a large red "F" and made him wear it around school.
Very sad, because it implies it would have been OK with the school to do this if he had not had FASD.
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Very sad, because it implies it would have been OK with the school to do this if he had not had FASD.
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