Early Interventions for Youth Affected by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Review of Current Literature

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the early interventions of youth affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. This literature review will look to gain an understanding on the present research of early interventions for youth who are affected by prenatal exposure as well as identify the gaps in research that still needs to be conducted. Method: The method used to find the research material was through the California State University, Northridge, library research search engine. Results: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) cause permanent conditions and are the number one cause of preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities. Five percent of the nation's children are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), due to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) which can cause developmental delays and learning disabilities. Attention span, memory, language, reasoning, judgment and decision making may all be affected by this spectrum disorder. Effected individuals have difficulty managing their day-to-day lives. Left unaddressed or untreated, many will have long-term issues, including mental health and addiction issues, lack of employment, incarceration, and other safety concerns. Individuals diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders may need lifelong support, but the disorder is often misunderstood, say advocates. Access to effective early interventions-which improve the outlook for affected individuals- is dependent upon early detection and intervention. Research shows that "specific symptoms are manageable and affected individuals' life outcomes can be improved." (Nash & Davies, 2009, p.595) A review of the literature shows barriers to receiving appropriate interventions. One such barrier to receiving appropriate interventions is early diagnosis. Another is training of providers such as pediatricians, teachers and occupational therapists. Another barrier is access to services, as these individual's needs are not recognized by typical screenings for services at Regional Centers. Lastly, evidence based interventions for students with FASD have not yet been identified. Five neurodevelopmental interventions may warrant further study for efficacy. Thereafter, four key needs exist to effectively reach this population: 1) awareness of FASD in the general population 2) establishment of evidence-based interventions 3) education and training within populations of providers, such as pediatricians, teachers, and occupational therapists to proliferate such trainings, and 4) making trainings available to relevant individuals and caregivers. In the spirit of "Not About Us Without Us," in this quest for knowledge, representation of individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure and their caregivers should be considered vital, as these two groups have been on the front lines. In many cases, they have been so with no central information or training ground.