Case Study Presentation: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in a 10-Year-Old Boy a. The patient, a 10-year-old boy, has been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The diagnosis is based on the presence of the following cognitive and physical symptoms, including problems with attention, short stature, low body weight, small head size, and abnormal facial features. The patient also has iron deficiency anemia, struggles with educational challenges such as poor comprehension and an inability to keep up in class, and has a family history of alcoholism and domestic violence.
- Pharmacologic Treatment: While no medications are specifically approved for FASDs, some can help manage symptoms of hyperactivity, attention problems, and impulse control. I would recommend the use of the medication Methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant, which has been shown to reduce hyperactivity in children ages 5-14 with FASD. (Wozniak, Riley, & Charness,2019).
b. Nonpharmacologic Treatment: Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and sensory based sleep therapy, can be beneficial for managing the behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with FASD. Prioritizing healthy sleep patterns and enhancing cognitive skills helps manage impulsivity, attention, and emotional regulation. This can positively affect behavior and overall well-being. (Breuer, Greenmyer, & Wilson, 2024).
c. The first referral I would make for the patient is for special education services which can provide the patient with individualized educational support, accommodation, and modifications to address his poor comprehension and academic struggles.
The second referral I would make would be to a behavioral therapist who provides sensory integration therapy to help with sensory processing difficulties. (Breuer, Greenmyer, & Wilson, 2024).
d . Animal assisted therapy is the recommended complementary therapy for my case study patient. Non-verbal communication with animals may be less stressful than verbal interactions. In a study done by Vidal, 2021, they found that combined with pharmacological treatment, 12 sessions of animal assisted therapy (DAT) helped to improve social skills, reduce internal and external symptoms, and lower FASD severity scores of children and adolescents with FASD. However, therapies involving heavy physical exertion or extreme sensory stimulation should be avoided due to the patient's physical and cognitive limitations. (Vidal et al., 2021).
What therapies would be contraindicated for Fetal alcohol syndrome disorder?
When exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), it is crucial to exercise caution. For instance, the pharmacological supplementation of Choline, a B vitamin linked to brain development and function, has been administered to children with FASD. This supplementation has shown promise in enhancing memory, visual, and non-verbal skills, as well as addressing certain cognitive deficits. However, more research is needed to validate its effectiveness. (Popova, Charness, Burd, Crawford, Hoyme, Mukherjee, Riley, & Elliott, 2023).
e. A resource that I would recommend to the parents of the patient in my case study is Families Moving Forward (FMF) Connect. This is a digital mobile program is designed to provide valuable education, CBT strategies, caregiver and peer support support for parents of children with FASD. (Petrenko, Christie, Parr, Kautz, Tapparello & Olson, 2020).
References
Breuer, L., Greenmyer, J. R., & Wilson, T. (2024). Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder in Children. Children, 11(1), 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010108Links to an external site.