Characteristics of FASD
Primary Characteristics:
Behaviours that are felt to most clearly reflect differences in brain structure and function:
- Dysmaturity, socially or developmentally younger
- Slower processing speed
- Impulsivity, distractibility
- Memory problems
- Inconsistent performance
- Strengths in some areas: art, music, computer, etc.
- Difficulty generalizing, forming links and making associations
- Difficulty abstracting and predicting outcomes
- Over and under-sensitivity to stimuli (sound, touch, visual info. Etc.)
Secondary Characteristics:
- Secondary defensive behaviors develop over time when there is a “poor fit” between the abilities of the individual and what is being required (e.g. visual learner –verbal instruction; slow processor-fast paced delivery; concrete-abstract etc.)
- Secondary symptoms are preventable
- Examples include:
- Frustration
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Shut down, avoidant
- Poor self esteem
- Isolated
- Family problems
Tertiary Characteristics:
Tertiary characteristics result from chronic “poor fit”, anger, failure and alienations:
- Trouble in school –truancy, drop out
- Social services involvement
- Involvement with justice
- Addictions
- Homelessness
- Mental Health Problems