Residential Treatment for Teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome encompasses a wide range of symptoms that sometimes overlap with signs of other neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disorders. This means that the underlying causes of executive functioning issues associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are often overlooked and misdiagnosed as other issues. Understanding the bigger picture of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can help teens receive the help they need to be successful in multiple areas of their lives, not just a school setting. Residential treatment centers for teens with fetal alcohol syndrome offer life coaching and academic support to help teens become more confident and independent.
The guide is meant to be comprehensive, but as such, not every section will be applicable to everyone. Instead, we invite you to click on the links in the table of contents to jump to the sections that most interest you.
How Does New Focus Academy Help Teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
It is important for psychologists working with a neurodiverse population, whether they’re on the Autism Spectrum or the Pre-Natal Substance Exposure spectrum, to understand that there are often other things at play as well. By focusing on underlying problems with executive functioning issues, New Focus Academy is better able to help both populations improve their self-esteem and become better at managing their emotions.
Our goal is to be more aware of what’s going on and responsible about the way we work with these students so that we’re not just labeling them as oppositional or another misdiagnosis, but, we’re making the effort to understand symptoms and offer appropriate treatment recommendations. Increasing independence is at the core of our program and belief system. By focusing on our students’ unique strengths, we help them accomplish meaningful goals and work towards independence. Students engage in real-life activities consistently in order to develop practical life skills, like social skills, time management, information organization, and attention to detail.
In order to help teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome be more successful when they transition home, we encourage parents to be involved every step of the way. Family therapy revolves around ways to support your teen’s increasing autonomy and independence and improving communication within the family system. Our therapists are trained in a variety of positive psychology techniques, including Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Self-Efficacy Theory, and Resiliency Therapy, that take a non-judgmental, client-centered approach to helping families.
Why is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Considered a Spectrum Disorder?
At New Focus Academy, we classify Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or any kind of pre-natal substance exposure, as a neurodiversity because of the wide range of effects it can have on a fetus’ brain development. The degree of symptoms depends on timing, frequency, amount of parent substance use, but it can be unpredictable. All of these substances have an effect on adult’s brains. Before birth, as a child’s brain is rapidly developing, they are even more vulnerable to the effects of these substances.
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What are the Signs and Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Teens?
When most people think about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, they typically think about the physical features associated with the disorder, which makes it easier to identify. Smaller head, facial features, and poor growth only occur in around 10% of cases, despite the stigma that it is the most common feature. The cognitive changes associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome often present the biggest challenges for teens. Like other neurodiversities, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is associated with a variety of executive functioning issues. This overlap can make fetal alcohol syndrome and autism spectrum disorder hard to distinguish.
Some features of the disorder may include:
- Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions
- Difficulty with social skills and self-regulation
- Specific learning disabilities, associated with executive functioning difficulties
- Poor ability to plan, organize, and predict things
- Slower processing speed
- Limited working memory
- Sensory processing issues
- Motor coordination
- Higher risk of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Special Education Services for Teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Learning Disabilities often struggle in the general classroom with academic challenges, peer acceptance, and self-esteem. Instead of focusing on learning disabilities, focusing on their learning abilities can help them to be successful students and transition into adulthood more smoothly. They may need more direct and systematic instruction in the classroom to address how they learn differently.
At New Focus Academy, our academic programming focuses on:
Identifying Strengths as well as areas where they need extra support. Their strengths may be in certain subjects or related to physical ability or artistic talent. Ability is determined by multiple skills and focusing on one’s strengths helps build self-esteem and resilience.
Collaborating with teachers, specialists, and therapists to create a plan that will address their academic and emotional needs. We include your child in these conversations and encourage them to reach out for help when they need it.
Encouraging self-advocacy and autonomy. Our approach encourages students to become more independent once they have learned the skills they need, using scaffolding. We help students to identify their own needs and strengths and offer support and resources to help them reach their potential.
Teens with FAS: Helping them Achieve Independence
The Price that Follows Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Teens
Helping Your Teen Work Through Learning Disabilities Associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Comparing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Executive Functioning Issues in Teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome