A Framework for Addressing the Needs of Students Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol and Other Drugs

Abstract

In this article, the authors review learning and behavioral problems of children exposed prenatally to alcohol and other drugs, focusing on executive-function deficits such as difficulty shifting tasks, maintaining attention, and manipulating information in working memory. They discuss various risk factors associated with prenatal drug exposure so that educators can better understand the nature of the disorder and choose more effective classroom interventions that address the deficits of these students.

Keywords:

• attention
• executive function
• interventions
• prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs
• working memory