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Many of the behavioural, emotional and learning difficulties experienced by children throughout Australia may be linked to alcohol exposure in the womb, clinical neuropsychologist Associate Professor Carmela Pestell will tell a Perth audience today in a free public lecture addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Associate Professor Pestell of the University of Western Australia, a FASD researcher at the Telethon Kids Institute and PATCHES Paediatrics, says alcohol is one of the most toxic substances to a developing baby, and can cause damage to the brain and central nervous system.
“FASD, which is caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, is recognised as the leading preventable cause of prenatal brain injury, birth defects and developmental and learning disability worldwide,” says Associate Professor Pestell.
“It’s a myth that it’s safe to drink during or after the first three months of pregnancy. The baby’s nervous system continues to develop during the whole of pregnancy, so it can be affected at any time, and researchers don’t yet know what a safe level is, if any,” she says.
“This is why NHMRC guidelines recommend that not drinking any alcohol during pregnancy is the safest option”.
Associate Professor Pestell says research shows FASD disabilities are life-long. They include intellectual impairment and problems with emotions and behaviour, as well as a raft of difficulties with thinking including memory, learning, attention, reasoning, speech and language.
“No one child is ever going to be the same and this complicates recognition and diagnosis of the condition,” she says. “Too often FASD is misdiagnosed as conditions such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorders, or not diagnosed at all.”
Associate Professor Pestell stresses that early assessment by a psychologist and multidisciplinary team is critical to obtain an accurate diagnosis, which will then enable treatment and management of an individual’s specific disabilities.
Associate Professor Pestell will be speaking as part of the Bringing Psychology to the People lecture series, initiated by APS President Anthony Cichello FAPS, to translate complex scientific information about psychological disorders to, and for the benefit of, the community.
Mr Cichello says, “Some estimates say as many as 1.2 million Australians could be affected by FASD, so it is vital people develop a broad understanding of the disorder and seek accurate assessment from a psychologist.”
Associate Professor Carmela Pestell is delivering a free public lecture at The University Club of Western Australia on 19 July at 6.30pm.
For more information, or to arrange an interview call the APS Media team on 03 8662 3358 / 0435 896 444, or email. Find the APS Media team on Twitter: @AustPsych
The APS is the largest professional organisation for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 27,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to people’s lives, through improving psychological knowledge and community wellbeing.