A  DEVELOPMENTAL  OVERVIEW  OF  FAS/E
through the Eyes of Parents
* 1998 FAS Family Resource Institute


TODDLERS (1-5)

Parents report that toddlers with FAS/E are:

* sometimes medically fragile
* usually require high maintenance, keeping parents alert and on duty
24 hours a day
* often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep patterns
* highly manipulative
* a danger to self and others because  they do not grasp the universal
laws of cause and effect
* void of the normal sequential learning abilities in reasoning,
judgment and memory
* very difficult to manage when out in public
* no natural fear of danger, e.g., lacking in the normal abilities to
distinguish between friend and enemy
* misunderstood by service providers because their IQ’s appear to be
developing normally


CHILDREN (6-11)

Parents report that children with FAS/E are:

* impulsive, unpredictable and mischievous, creating ongoing safety
hazards, such as setting fires and running away
* often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep patterns
* innately skilled in manipulative tactics
* void of normal sense of justice
* overlooked as permanently disabled because their IQ’s are normal
* desperate for stimulation and excitement to keep them entertained and
happy
* emotionally volatile and often exhibit wide mood swings throughout
the day
* often disconnected from their own feelings and are unable to identify
or express logical reasons behind their volatile outbursts
* isolated and lonely because the desire to be included remains intact
while the reasoning skill to figure out why they are excluded is lacking
* angry and resentful toward more structure and supervision than their
peers need
* void of natural empathy for others


ADOLESCENTS (12-17)

Parents report that adolescents with FAS/E are:

* moral chameleons (despite consistent loving care, family values and
even general rules of social behavior are not being internalized)
* often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep pattern
* at high risk for being drawn into anti-social behavior: stealing,
lying, running away, etc.
* continuing to be a safety menace to themselves and others
* still in need of limits and protection like a three year old
* often obsessed by primal impulses such as sexual activity and fire
setting
* able to recognize and will submit to raw power, making them
vulnerable to gangs.
* seriously impaired when it comes to making decisions (not having the
judgment or reasoning skills to make decisions)
* terrified of major transition or change, e.g., middle school, moving,
etc.
* extremely vulnerable to ideas in movies, videos, music, TV and
advertisements
* unaware of normal hygiene needs
* unable to take responsibility for their actions


ADULTS (18 and over)

Parents report that their adult children with FAS/E are:

* moral chameleons
* often exhausted and irritable from uneven sleep patterns
* extremely vulnerable to anti-social behavior and at great risk for
finding the structure and supervision they need in the criminal justice
system
* unlikely to follow safety rules concerning fire hazards, safe meal
preparation, vehicle operation, infectious diseases, basic life needs,
etc.
* notably lacking in the ability to manage money
* volatile if pushed too far to do something they see as unreasonable,
such as asking them for money to pay their rent or groceries.
* quite vulnerable to co-dependent relationships, which can turn
violent
* incapable of taking daily medication or birth control pills on a
regular and effective basis
* vulnerable to panic attacks, depression, suicide ideation, mental and
emotional overload, and sometimes psychotic breaks
* very impaired as to entertaining themselves and keeping out of
mischief
* not nearly as capable as they appear to be
* in desperate need of appropriate sheltered employment opportunities




 Note: These characteristics may appear to be typical behavior in a
normal person, but in individuals who
have been disabled by prenatal exposure to alcohol, these traits occur
in grossly exaggerated form and do not respond to typical interventions.