How to Cope With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Children with fetal alcohol syndrome typically have a variety of intellectual, behavioral and medical disabilities. Parents may experience frustration due to the demands placed on them. The child is often frustrated by his limitations. Through parenting strategies and support services, the parents and child can cope with the challenges of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get an official diagnosis from a pediatrician. If the child is adopted, information about the birth mother is helpful in making the diagnosis. The doctor will also address medical needs. Fetal alcohol syndrome is associated with heart, dental, joint, vision and hearing problems.
2. Provide a consistent home life. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome suffer from short attention spans, memory problems and irritability. They benefit from schedules, routines, boundaries and rules. Keep a calm yet firm demeanor. Seek out support groups to assist with parenting advice, connections to intervention services and respite care.
3. Obtain childhood intervention services to help the parent and child cope. An official diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome is required. All states provide these services to varying extents. Consider counseling for behavioral and emotional problems, speech therapy and physical therapy for muscle tone and motor skills. Seek occupational therapy to teach the child essential skills like dressing and grooming.
4. Use special education services for learning problems. By law, public schools must provide these services. The intellectual capacity of children with fetal alcohol syndrome varies. Behavioral problems usually contribute to the learning difficulties.
5. Help the child make friends. Impulsive behavior and poor social judgment make friendships difficult. Role-play fundamental concepts like joining in, sharing and dealing with disagreement and anger. Supervise play. Solicit help from teachers.
6. Focus on vocational education and practical skills for adolescents with fetal alcohol syndrome. Courses in money management, personal safety and interpersonal skills are helpful. High schools often provide this educational track.
7. Be realistic. Most individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome live in a structured, supervised arrangement for the remainder of their lives. Employment, if obtained, is usually for the disabled. Individuals have a high incidence of sexual victimization because of poor judgment and impulsive behavior. Provide sexual education and discuss reproductive health.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't respond to angry outbursts and violence with the same behavior. Instead, model appropriate responses to anger.