Fetal Alcohol Victims Often Don’t Get Help Children Need Advocate Who Understands Them, Expert Says

A mother of two listened attentively Friday as the speaker described her sons during a conference on fetal alcohol syndrome.

They don’t learn from their experiences. They are often friendless. They don’t pay attention, the speaker said.

“These are my boys they’re talking about,” said the mother, who didn’t want her name published because she still fears losing her children. “And no, I didn’t adopt them. It’s my fault that they turned out this way.”

She was a heavy drinker more than 10 years ago. Because of her alcoholism, she didn’t know she was pregnant with her second son for more than four months.

Now, she has been sober for six years and devotes most of her time to helping her boys, ages 11 and 9, struggle through life.

According to recent research, such children are more likely to drop out or get kicked out of school, get arrested, need mental health counseling or become addicted to drugs and alcohol.

About 150 parents, teachers, doctors and counselors are attending the symposium “Beyond Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 101, What Works, What Doesn’t.” The conference, which continues today, at Deaconess Medical Center, is open to those who preregistered and paid the $75 fee.

Children with the syndrome have physical deformities and mental disabilities. Children with fetal alcohol effect have no physical defects, but experience similar learning disabilities. Both are the results of pregnant mothers drinking alcohol.

As they grow up, these children run into more problems than those with other disabilities, said Ann Streissguth, a University of Washington researcher and expert on the subject.

“I have been totally outraged that people who have been born with disabilities have to go to jail,” she said. “We don’t send people with Down syndrome to jail.”

Because most of society still does not recognize fetal alcohol syndrome as a birth defect, the children are not given needed support or supervision as they grow up, she said. Too many people - teachers, doctors, even parents - expect them to act like a normal child with a low IQ.

Streissguth’s mission is to convince parents and professionals of the limitations of someone with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Many children she has examined are eager and likable during their elementary school years, she said. Even though they have low IQs, they are charming and get along well with adults.

“I used to think, these kids will do just fine, given the right educational opportunities,” she said.

Everything changes when they enter puberty, she said. They experience a host of emotional problems like low self-esteem, frustration and confusion. They have poor judgment and impulse control, she said.

Many girls get pregnant. Many boys get in trouble with the law, she said.

Keeping these children in school is crucial to preventing such problems, Streissguth said. They are more likely to stay in class if they have a personal advocate at the school who understands their limitations.

Children with the syndrome are also more successful at school if they have one good friend they associate with, as opposed to a larger group of friends, she said.

Speakers today planned to discuss strategies for teaching children with fetal alcohol syndrome.

The conference was sponsored by Washington PAVE, which stands for Parents Are Vital Educators. The group is a non-profit organization to help children with disabilities. More information is available by calling 326-1722.

, DataTimes