Abstract

LAMONICA, Dionísia Aparecida Cusin et al. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and communication abilities: family case report. Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.1, pp. 129-133. ISSN 1516-8034.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-80342010000100021.

The present study had the aim to characterize the communicative abilities profile of five siblings with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. This diagnosis was carried out based on the positive report of prenatal alcohol exposure and identification of clinical signs. The Speech-Language Pathology evaluation consisted of the Communicative Behavior Observation, the Behavioral Development Scale of Gesell and Amatruda, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and hearing evaluation. Participants presented various degrees of alterations in gross motor, fine motor, adaptative, personal-social and language behaviors. The communicative abilities were altered for all the participants, and S4 presented autistic behaviors. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders were confirmed in S1, S2 and S5 and the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was confirmed for S3 and S4. The results showed variability in the development of the studied abilities among the siblings with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The variability of the findings, especially in communicative abilities and behavior, suggests the need to follow-up children with reports of alcohol use by the mother, considering the impact of these disorders on these individuals' global development, including daily life activities and schooling.

Keywords : Fetal alcohol syndrome; Alcohol-related disorders; Child development; Language development; Communication; Verbal behavior; Evaluation.