Reviews genesis of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects in children. Identifies physical characteristics and behavioral indicators found and provides three checklists of observable signs for both disorders. Recommends seven steps for educators to follow in seeking assistance with these conditions. (DLH)

This study explored relationships between intelligence and visual motor ability and patterns of impairment of visual motor ability in children prenatally affected by alcohol. Fourteen children (mean age 8.2 years) diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and 50 children with possible fetal alcohol effects (FAE) were assessed with the Bender…

This report discusses the use of cocaine throughout history; the introduction of crack cocaine in the early 1980s; its use by pregnant women; and the resulting impact on their infants, including premature births, deformities, and impaired neurological functioning. Studies which show that the neurological impairments continue into at least early…

This document is the compilation of 50 reviews of selected articles, published between 1966-1970, pertaining to the relationship between malnutrition and potential to learn. The materials represent a relatively complete cross-section of the information available on this subject. There are three recurring themes in the publications reviewed. (1) If…

This case study provides early developmental data about a child later diagnosed as autistic. The report describes results of serial ultrasounds performed during the pregnancy, the complication of maternal diabetes, family history, high maternal stress levels, avoidance behaviors of the infant, and developmental delays exhibited especially in…

This study investigated early clinical differences between 27 children (ages 0-4) with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and 27 children with attention deficit disorder. Results revealed almost no differences between both groups with respect to pregnancy or birth complications and suggest that differences become more…

Examines the effects of drug use during pregnancy on early and later child development, the extent of women's drug use, and behavioral and learning characteristics of children prenatally exposed to drugs. Provides intervention guidelines for early childhood settings including children with prenatal drug exposure, focusing on recommendations for…

The report highlights eight children's programs found to be fiscally effective by evaluations completed in the last 5 years. Each of the programs is addressed in terms of evaluation findings from specific studies. The following eight programs are examined (sample findings in parentheses): (1) WIC-Special Supplemental Food Program for Women,…

The multiple-birth family must struggle to cope with extraordinary issues with little or no information or support, and with little understanding from the community at large. This paper describes such issues and their impact on the lives of families of twins, triplets, quadruplets, and quintuplets from conception through adolescence. An…

This project was designed to explore the relationship between school achievement and birth weight in a population of poverty black school children in the hope that the assumptions about environmental similarity might be approximated, and that the relatively advanced age of the subjects would allow examination of the lasting effects of birth…

Part of an international study of the nature and extent of childhood mortality in geographically, socioeconomically and culturally disparate populations, this report focuses on (1) an investigation into all deaths of children under 5 years of age, and (2) a probability sample of live children within the same northern California area during an…

A sample of 25 children exposed prenatally to cocaine was compared with a control group of 18 children not exposed to any drugs prenatally. Using the AGS (American Guidance Service) Screening Profile, results indicated that the control group was significantly superior on all subtests except for the Motor Coordination and Speech Articulation…

Discusses the use of pretend play as a cognitive assessment tool. Examines the failure of developmental progression of play in preterm, drug-exposed, malnourished, Down's syndrome, mentally retarded, and autistic children. Examines individual differences in play, and the relationship between language and play, in these groups. (AC)

The relationship between prenatal drug exposure, emotional and behavioral disorder (E/BD) identification in Head Start, and subsequent special education kindergarten placement in 145 Head Start children (ages 3-4) was examined. Results showed that 47% of the drug-exposed group versus 35% of the non-drug-exposed group met classification criteria…