The FASD Elephant™
Michael L. Harris, M.A., L.P.
Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, Inc.

Do you remember the story about the six wise men who couldn’t see the elephant they were describing? Each had a different belief about the elephant based on the part of it he had touched. One grabbed the tail and thought the elephant was like a rope; the tusk reminded another of a spear; the leg felt like a tree. Each was partly right, but they all were wrong, too.

Sometimes, I think FASD is an elephant.

Since 1996, I’ve seen more well-meaning caregivers and professionals in my psychology practice unwittingly struggle against FASD than I care to remember. They want their child or student or client to succeed, but, more often than not, their efforts fall flat or backfire, and they grow frustrated and demoralized.

Usually, they’re only seeing a single part of FASD, rather than the whole elephant.

Prenatal alcohol can impair up to ten domains of brain functioning (e.g., memory, learning, attention, sensory integration, etc.), creating a jumble of symptoms interpreted differently by everyone. Caregivers see defiance. Teachers see learning problems. Doctors and psychologists see ADHD. People in the grocery store see “bad parents” or “a bad kid.”

Any or all of these interpretations could be partly true, but without seeing the whole elephant, they’re all wrong because each one suggests a different response. Defiance means punishment. Learning problems mean special education. ADHD means medication. Poor parenting means parenting classes. Partly true perspectives lead to chaos when we’re really dealing with the FASD Elephant™.

The solution is to remember that the FASD Elephant™ is brain damage. FASD is a disability that can disturb any aspect of a person’s behavior, but it demands a multi-modal, coordinated approach rooted in a brain damage perspective. To really make a positive impact, we must focus on the brain damage–not on the behaviors. As Diane Malbin says, “Don’t try harder, think differently.”

Brain damage requires different thinking. When a problem arises, ask yourself, “What is really going on here?” Think about which brain domain might be creating a challenging behavior. Then, try strategies based on that person’s identified brain strengths and weaknesses. See the overall picture of what is happening first–look at the whole FASD Elephant™. Otherwise, this rogue elephant will trample all over you.

(Reprinting this article is welcomed; however, please contact the author before doing so ~ article 1 of 3.)
© 2007 by Michael L. Harris ~ http://www.FASDElephant.com