Project
Executive Functioning and Working Memory in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Carmen Rasmussen, University of Alberta, phone: (780) 492-5262, email: carmen@ualberta.ca
Co-investigators: Jeff Bisanz, Professor of Psychology, University of Alberta, phone: (780) 492-5258, email: jbisanz@ualberta.ca ; Dr. Kathy Horne, Psychologist, Pediatrics, Psychology Services, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, phone: (780) 735-7999 ext 2217, email: khorne@cha.ab.ca ; Adrienne D. Witol, Pediatric Oncology, Stollery Children's Hospital, phone: (780)407-7844, email: awitol@cha.ab.ca
Start/End Date: June 2003 to June 2005
Location: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta and Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
Brief Description: The purpose of this project was to evaluate executive functioning and working memory in children and adolescents (aged 8-16 years) diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Executive functioning and working memory have been identified as significant areas of difficulty among individuals with FASD.
All participants were tested on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function system (D-KEFS), which measures problem solving, concept formation, flexibility of thinking, verbal and nonverbal fluency, inhibition, planning and reasoning, abstract thinking, and deductive reasoning. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) was used to evaluate parental ratings of executive functioning in the areas of inhibition, set shifting, emotional control, working memory, planning, organizational skills, and monitoring skills. A working memory battery was also administered to evaluate visual-spatial, phonological, and central executive components of working memory.
Children and adolescents with FASD displayed difficulties on many aspects of executive functioning and working memory. An interesting pattern of performance on the executive functioning scales also emerged and participants appeared to perform with age, relative to the norm, on some aspects of executive functioning. This research is important to better understand the pattern of executive functioning and working memory difficulties that children with FASD display in order to improve diagnosis, instruction, and remediation.
Time Frame: Completed
Kind of Project: Research
Population Served: urban, rural,, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, children with FASD
Publications (includes presentations):
Rasmussen C (2005). Executive functioning and working memory in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29, 1359-1367
Rasmussen C & Bisanz J (2007). Executive Functioning in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Profiles and Age-Related Differences. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Rasmussen C & Bisanz J (October 2005). Executive fuctioning in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disroder. Poster presented at the Cognitive Development Society (CDS), San Diego, CA.
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