Effects+of+Fetal+Alcohol+Syndrome+in+Adults

=﻿﻿﻿EFFECTS OF FETAL ALCOHOL = =SYNDROME IN ADULTS = When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, she risks giving birth to a child with irreversible brain damage. But the problems associated with fetal alcohol exposure don't end when those children grow up. There are hundreds of thousands of adults across the country affected by a range of lingering disorders. Most of those adults have trouble living independently. They often have poor judgment and stunted social skills. Their unpredictable behavior can get them into serious trouble. (Robertson, 2007)

Particularly in adults, FAS comes across as a particularly rigid way of looking at things, usually having a hard time letting go of an idea; and/or a certain way of feeling or interpreting a feeling and not being able to refuse or to consider any other explanation. Also it can be seen as a definite interest in something which excludes all others. Adults who “lock in” to their behaviour and are unable to sort it out or make sense of it. Trying to “talk sense”, “rationalize” or intervene, especially using languages, makes the situation worse. They are unable to “let go” no matter what the negative consequence and are unable to see other possibilities. Adults who continue usually have great difficulty in seeing similarities and differences in behaviors and situations, along with problems in sorting and classifying sub-sets of those behaviors. Again, the first choice is seen as the only choice. People affected by FAS do not see other options, but only what is here and now. They find decision making is also governed by the ability to generalize. There is use of general rules of thumb, which are remembered from a personal experience, and which worked before, to make decisions in new situations. These past experiences guide thinking and provide a basis for making those other choices. For the person with FAS, choice making and problem solving are very difficult, because of the lack of ability to generalize the information and apprehend new relationships among the pieces of a problem. In FAS, the first solution to a problem is usually seen as the only solution to a problem, even when it clearly does not work. People who cannot generalize, are unable to develop an understanding about something new they come across based on similarities to, or differences from.

[] Westbrook Farm near the St. Louis River is a non-profit farm that houses about 8 adult men with FAS. The residents of this ranch have a problem controlling their impulses and do not comprehend that there are consequences to their behavior. According to Travis Dombrovski,the facility director who says that the men’s behavior on the farm is unpredictable and sometimes explosive. (Robertson, 2007) Often these men get violent when faced with situations of confusion or frustration, resulting in swearing obscenities and breaking things.(Robertson, 2007) Dombrovski also says that the residents have problems learning from their mistakes, so instead of punishment he uses a different method. This alternative method is something he calls “Natural consequences” which involves the residents to fixing or replacing damaged property on the farm. (Robertson, 20007) Despite the evidence that suggests that punishment is not a viable solution for adults who suffer from the effects of FAS, it is still the accepted method. This is concerning when you consider that upwards of 60% of these adults will spend time in jail (Robertson, 2007) Adults living with the effects of brain damage as a result of FAS often have a trouble coping in society as well. Liz Kulp, for example explains that she has been kicked out of apartments as a result of her inability to make good decisions. Liz’s mother explains that friends exploited her by using her apartment as party central and as a result of the noise and disturbance her daughter was evicted from her home. (Robertson, 2007) Robertson, T. (2007,November 21). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:The Invisible Disorder.Retrieved November, 9 2010, from MPR News: []

Robertson, T 

Robertson, T. (2007, November 21). //Fetal alcohol syndrome: The invisible disorder//. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from MPR news: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/11/15/adultfasd/

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