Drugs and Alcohol
It is a well-known and well-researched fact that a pregnant woman drinking alcohol -- or using other substances that are defined as teratogens -- is taking a risk that her baby could be negatively impacted. In fact there are well over a thousand substances that are considered to be teratogens; Purdue University lists 205 teratogens that begin with the letter "A" -- and even more that begin with "B" -- just to give the researcher and idea of how many dangerous substances that expectant mothers should steer clear of (www.purdue.edu). Essentially, teratology is the study of the "causes and biological processes leading to abnormal development and birth defects" -- an important component of teratology research seeks preventative measures (Tandon, et al., 2009).
Alcohol as a frequently ingested teratogen
According to a peer-reviewed article in the journal Eye, teratology has not received the attention that other research issues have received -- for example, genetics has received a great deal of scientific attention and has made a significant contribution to our understanding...
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is one of the most common and devastating birth abnormalities among American children. This paper will provide an in-depth look at FAS, using four reliable sources as a basis of this analysis. The sources used are Streissguth, Jacobson & Jacobson, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), and National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). The information obtained from these sources will be
According to recent studies conducted by Ernest Abel and Robert Sokol, the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is estimated to be 0.33 cases per 1,000 live births. The States of Missouri less than 25 cases of Fetal alcohol Syndrome out of 80,000 recorded live births. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is considered as a serious health problem that has unfortunately affected victims and their families, however according to reports the inherited disorder
Four of those children had short palpebral fissures, a smooth philtrum (see previous article by Blackburn), and "microcephaly" (a situation where a child's head is far smaller than the heads of children the same age), all manifestations of a child whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. Dr. Smith and other doctors that got involved began checking the various maladies these children suffered from with other children whose disabilities hadn't
Again, growth deficiencies occur for many different reasons, and other causes must be ruled out. Central nervous system disorders in FAS can be significant and varied, and mimic other disorders. Diagnosis of FAS can be made on the basis of structural, neurological, or functional CNS disorders. Diagnosis of CNS deficits must also rule out other disorders that can co-exist with FAS, such as autism or oppositional defiant disorder (National
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Special Education About the Child Pietro is a 7-year-old boy. His biological parents are Argentine and Colombian. He was born approximately six weeks prematurely because of his mother's consumption of alcohol throughout the duration of her pregnancy. According to medical reports, his mother did not consume heavy quantities of alcohol, but she did consume nominal amounts on a regular basis, such as one to three times a week, nearly
According to the research, this is "a theoretical framework that seeks to describe a developmental process associated with efforts to provide access for individuals with disabilities to facilities, programs, and information," (Edyburn 2001 p 24). This theoretical foundation focuses on the need to increase advocacy through academic research and the exposure of common findings to advocacy groups. Then, phase 2 focuses on making much needed resources and environments for
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