Behaviour problems with individuals with FASD are a major concern for parents and schools: learning disabilities – academic – ADD / ADHD – speech and language – information processing – patterning problems poor impulse control inability to relate behaviour to consequences no sense of connection to societal rules poor short term memory inconsistent knowledge base poor personal boundaries confusion under pressure difficulty grasping abstract concepts inability to manage his/her anger inability to manage other’s anger […]
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Depression is increasing in numbers. Is it because: incidents of depression is increasing more services are available families are more willing to seek help greater recognition Depression in adults is relatively easy to diagnose: there is a pronounced change in mood changes persist adults usually acknowledge the problem adults have some mature insights they are usually motivated to “fix” it Depression in young people is harder to diagnose is he/she depressed or just being […]
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All of the below must be present for a confident diagnosis: growth deficiency characteristic facial features central nervous system problems – microcephaly (small head) – hyperactivity – learning disabilities – developmental disabilities – seizures – mental retardation The characteristic facial features are most obvious between 8 months of age and 8 years. Diagnosis becomes more difficult in older individuals because puberty changes facial and body features. Frequently a diagnosis of FASD is made without clear […]
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Four bad things can happen to a developing baby exposed to alcohol in utero: – functional deficits – growth deficiency – malformation – death Full blown FASD is only the “tip of the iceberg”. The largest part of the iceberg is comprised of those individuals who appear “normal” but are unable to meet their potential. In previous years these individuals may have been diagnosed as having FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effect). FAE is a term that […]
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A big thank you to the staff at St. Andrew’s School in Kashechewan for your kindness and the opportunity to share ideas about behaviour management. Kashechewan is a First Nations community of about 2,500 people in Canada’s subarctic. It is situated near the mouth of the Albany River on James Bay.
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