Intervention recommendations and subsequent access to services following clinical assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Jacqueline Pei; Lauren Baugh; Gail Andrew; Carmen Rasmussen

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.11.007

Intervention recommendations and subsequent access to services following clinical assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Res Dev Disabil. 2017 Jan:60:176-186. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.11.007. Epub 2016 Dec 14.

Authors

Jacqueline Pei¹, Lauren Baugh², Gail Andrew³, Carmen Rasmussen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, 6-102 Education North, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada. Electronic address: jacqueline.pei@ualberta.ca.
² Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, 6-102 Education North, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada. Electronic address: lbaugh@ualberta.ca.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, 3rd Floor, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, 10230 111 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada. Electronic address: Gail.Andrew@albertahealthservices.ca.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, 3rd Floor, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: carmen@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 27987413
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.11.007

Abstract

Background: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) experience multiple difficulties requiring various interventions. Researchers have called for investigation into service use with respect to clinically recommended interventions.

Aims: To examine intervention recommendations for children with FASD/PAE and subsequent access to these recommended interventions.

Methods and procedures: Intervention recommendations following FASD assessment were examined for children (1-17 years). Recommendations were compared according to diagnostic status and demographic and environmental variables. Subsequent access to several interventions was examined for 45 participants.

Outcomes and results: A variety of recommendations were given. Children with FASD received more recommendations overall and received more education, anticipatory guidance, family support, and safety recommendations than undiagnosed children with PAE. Undiagnosed children received more mental health and reassessment recommendations. Older children received fewer family support and developmental therapy recommendations but more mental health recommendations than younger age groups. Many families accessed modified school programming, developmental therapy, psychiatry, child counseling, and parent support as recommended.

Conclusions and implications: Children with FASD and PAE have extensive needs and should receive individualized recommendations. An assessment is valuable even without an FASD diagnosis. Areas of high/low service access may provide insight into accessibility and perceived importance of interventions.

What this paper adds: This study responds to important research questions regarding the intervention needs of individuals with FASD. It is novel in its exploration of intervention recommendations given to children prenatally exposed to alcohol without an FASD diagnosis (rather than only children with FASD) and in its examination of post-assessment service use patterns specifically in relation to clinical recommendations.

Keywords: Clinical assessment; Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; Intervention; Prenatal alcohol exposure; Service use.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Age Factors
Child
Child Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Child, Preschool
Education, Special / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / rehabilitation*
Health Services Accessibility*
Humans
Infant
Male
Preventive Medicine
Retrospective Studies
Social Skills
United States