Psychoeducational Outcomes of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Abstract

The deleterious effects of intrauterine exposure to alcohol include cognitive deficits, academic difficulties, and psychosocial behavioral problems persisting into adulthood. This article relates chronicity, timing, and severity of alcohol exposure to age-specific developmental and behavioral consequences. Specific interventions with infants, preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents are delineated. Since a stimulating postnatal environment may mitigate some of the detrimental effects of intrauterine exposure, it is advocated that services for each youngster are made available as early as necessary and be based on individual strengths and weaknesses as determined within a contextual framework.

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Notes on contributors

LeAdelle Phelps

LeAdelle Phelps, PhD, is Professor and Director, School Psychology Program, State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research interests include early childhood disorders and therapeutic intervention issues with children and adolescents.