Meeting the Needs of Children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Through Research Based Interventions

Abstract

This systematic review addresses the research question: What interventions are most effective in supporting the Special Educational Needs of primary aged children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Four peer reviewed journals were systematically searched, identifying 11 studies that met inclusion criteria. This review summarises and appraises the intervention outcomes of these studies and provides a cross-study analysis of results. While the majority of outcomes were unsubstantiated, several themes have emerged. Firstly, interventions that include parents and children as participants were more likely to meet their intended outcome. Second, a number of interventions led to a reduction in challenging behaviour, even if this was not the primary outcome of the study. Finally, a range of interventions, based on research with children with general learning disabilities, was shown to be effective in addressing specific deficits. Further research into effective interventions is needed to develop a strong evidence base to guide parents, educators and other professionals working with children with FASD.