Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, including details on pregnancy, birth defects, causes, symptoms, treatment. | ||||||||
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Prenatal alcohol exposure and ability, academic achievement, and school functioning in adolescence: a longitudinal follow-up.Howell KK, Lynch ME, Platzman KA, Smith GH, Coles CD Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1256 Briarcliff Road, Suite 324-West, Atlanta, Georgia 30306. khowell@emory.edu. Background Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with learning, behavioral, and academic problems even in children without the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). OBJECTIVE: To examine the prenatal alcohol exposure and ability, academic achievement, and school functioning in adolescence. METHODS: In a longitudinal cohort, intelligence, academic performance, and school functioning were evaluated in 265 low socioeconomic status (SES) adolescents (M age = 15.1 years), 128 prenatally exposed to alcohol, 53 controls, and 84 special education students by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd edition (WISC-III) and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT). School records were abstracted for grade point averages (GPA), standardized achievement test scores, conduct, attendance, and special education placement. RESULTS: Alcohol-affected youth had significantly lower IQs than those in the other three groups. CONCLUSION: Although academic achievement (WIAT scores) was most impaired in the special education group who showed lower performance over all as well as in reading and spelling, alcohol-affected youth showed significant deficits on mathematics subtests. There was no increased incidence of conduct problems in school records related to alcohol exposure. Published 21 December 2005 in J Pediatr Psychol, 31(1): 116-26.
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