Themes (4)

Repeated contact with police/criminal justice system in older youths

Concern from parents of younger children about their vulnerability

Good professional knowledge was helpful

Poor professional knowledge was not!

#FASD #BACCH

Themes (3)

Dissatisfaction with education response (as IQ OK but adaptive function poor)

Systemic barriers to a lack of support

School failure/lack of alternative provision

#FASD #BACCH

Themes (2)

Diagnosis could be empowering and reassuring for carers and children

Some felt diagnosis made no impact due to lack of change following diagnosis

Overlooked physical complications

Struggles in adulthood

#FASD #BACCH

Themes

Diagnostic pathway
"A really long, tortuous journey"
"We kept going round in circles"

Variability in Prenatal Alcohol Exposure history
Stigma surrounding diagnosis

#FASD #BACCH

Next: Hilina Getnet talking about Children antenatally exposed to alcohol and conversations with stakeholders

What do familied at the forefront of FASD think about its current state?

15 parent/carer interviews were done

#FASD #BACCH

Next: Dr Sarah Gough and Anna Wallace: Reducing Poverty for families attending Community Paediatric Clinics (in Sheffield)

Poverty is a risk factor for negative health and developmental outcomes

Is is COMMON (10% for this team)

We get more referrals from this group

#BACCH #FASD

Q. How much engagement have you had from the criminal justice system in the UK
A. There has been some level of engagement. There is education for police, judges and intermediaries, as well as to probation services

#FASD #BACCH @commchildhealth.bsky.social

All this has impact on the justice system and criminality

This puts an onus on paediatricians to make the link between alcohol exposure and potential FASD to protect these individuals

A very good talk.

@commchildhealth.bsky.social #FASD #BACCH

Alcohol is unique

It has the most damaging, widespread effect on a foetus

But it is usually the only drug which, if you are not consuming it, people will want to know why NOT, and suggest you SHOULD

#FASD #BACCH

There are cases of confabulation where individuals with have admitted to serious crimes (including murder) due to confabulation, and been convicted

They have been overturned only as other people have had to prove they could not have committed the crimes

#FASD #BACCH

If someone has poor memory, suggestibility and confabulation, you can understand how you would be vulnerable in police interview and with a lawyer in court

They were also more persuadable to change when challenged

There is eagerness to please

#FASD #BACCH

That's important because and IQ of below 70 is associated with lots of increased support. But the FASD population skirts just above this

Delayed memory recall is poor, and confabulation/suggestibility much increased

This leads to vulnerability in police interview

#BACCH #FASD

There is a very high risk of recidivism (reoffending after conviction) due to the lack of understanding and ability to learn

Dr Gilbert's reseach found that the FASD group had an average IQ of 82 compared with the control group average of 116. Most will not drop below the IQ cut-off of 70

#FASD

Just saying #shorts #youtubeshorts #viralshorts #FASD #disability

Individuals with FASD are 19-40x more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system

The diagnosis of FASD does not make you a criminal, but it is associated with vunerability which leads to involvement with social and criminal issues

#FASD #BACCH

In subpopulations, e.g. Looked After Children, rates of prenatal alcohol exposure may be much higher - 25-50%

#FASD #BACCH

A typical 18yo with FASD may have:

The expressive language of a 20 year old
The reading ability of a 16 year old
The living skills of an 11 year old
The money and time concept of an 8 year old
The social skills of a 7 year old
The comprehension and emotional maturity of a 6 year old

#FASD #BACCH

Individuals with FASD have strengths

They may be creative and have strong expressive language

This, combined with the usual lack of facial features, can mask true vulnerability

#FASD #BACCH

About 4% of children in the UK may have FASD

That's between 18-35,000 annually

#BACCH #FASD

Alcohol is such a small molecule it can permeate every part of the body, so comorbidities are common

50% of people with FASD have ADHD

41% of women in the UK drink alcohol while pregnant. That is the 4th highest rate in the world.

The reasons are multifactorial

#BACCH #FASD