 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, President, Children's Research Triangle, 180 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601 and Mary Susan Rudisill, PsyD, Children's Research Triangle, 180 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601, (312)726-4011, mrudisill@cr-triangle.org.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a program of neurocognitive habilitation for foster and adoptive children who have a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND). 120 foster and adoptive children, ages six years six months to eleven years eleven months, will be randomly divided between subject and control cohorts. Approximately 55% of the population will be African-American, 30% white, and 15% Hispanic. It is postulated that participation in 12 weekly 75-minute neurocognitive habilitation group therapy sessions, while their parent(s) concurrently participate in a parent education group, children in the intervention group will demonstrate improvements in cognitive, sensory processing, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Our intervention model will target the biologically-based neurocognitive deficits found in children with FAS or ARND and the psychosocial issues that exist because of early separation from the home and instability found in the lives of many of these children. Outcome measures assessed at completion of the 12 week course and seven months later include the children's executive functioning, behavior, sensory functioning, school achievement, social skills, adaptive behaviors, emotional functioning, and memory, and the parents' competency and attitudes. In sum, through providing neurocognitive group therapy intervention for the identified children, we will address the micro level - To what degree do brain function and structure allow for self-regulation? - and the macro level - To what degree does the environment provide the structure and guidance necessary for the child to function?
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Alcohol, Children With Special Needs
Related Web page: www.childstudy.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.