Prenatal exposure to alcohol can have many detrimental effects throughout the life span. Of primary concern are changes in the brain that lead to deficiencies in cognitive functioning, including memory and learning problems, attention deficits, poor motor coordination, and difficulties with problem-solving. These cognitive deficiencies create long-standing problems in many spheres of life, including disturbances in work, school, and social functioning. Treatment strategies that have been used with other cognitively impaired populations may be adapted to assist patients who display the various cognitive symptoms associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Keywords: attention; brain damage; cognitive process; congenital anomaly; diagnostic criteria; fetal alcohol effects; fetal alcohol syndrome; intelligence and ability; memory; motor coordination; neurodevelopmental anomaly; prenatal alcohol exposure; problem solving; treatment.