Strategies for Addressing the Executive Function Impairments of Students Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol and Other Drugs

Abstract

Students who have been exposed prenatally to alcohol or other drugs are susceptible to a range of developmental problems— from mild to severe. In this article, the authors review critical learning and behavioral problems of children exposed prenatally to alcohol and other drugs, with a specific focus on executive function deficits. They discuss various risk factors associated with prenatal drug exposure so that educators may better understand the nature of the problem and choose more effective classroom interventions that address the executive function deficits of these students. Many of the suggested interventions are also appropriate for developing executive functioning in students with attention-deficit disorders, traumatic brain injury, autism, and other disorders associated with deficits in executive functions.