Alberta experts leading research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Alberta is leading the way when it comes to research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, according to an expert in the field.

"[Alberta presenters are] doing some things in certain areas that are really unique and innovative and interesting,"said Jan Lutke, clinical research manager for the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network and chair of the International FASD Conference taking place next week in Victoria, B.C.

Almost20 Alberta experts from the fields of medicine, justice, social work and education will join presenters from around the world at the conference, which runs March 11-14.

FASD refers to a range of disabilities that are seen in people whose mothers drank alcohol while they were pregnant. Problems children face can include learning disabilities, memory loss, short attention spans and difficulty understanding the consequences of actions.

Kristine Aanderson, the senior program manager for the Chimo Project in Edmonton, will speak to the conference about how she uses animals to help children with FASD.

"We're finding big increases in their social skills, big increases in their participation and motivation and when they are in a therapy session, they want to work a lot harder,"Aanderson said.

She uses cats, birds, a miniature horse and a four-year-old Sheltie named Pippen to get children to open up, and decrease their levels of anxiety and depression.

Having the opportunity to present her research to an international audience at the Victoria conference gives what she is doing a stamp of approval, Aanderson said.

"We spent 10 years amassing this evidence about how effective it is,"she said."We've really reached a point now where the world is starting to recognize ... this is something amazing and it really can help these clients."

This type of therapy is still fairly new, so there's a lot of interest in this kind of research, Jan Lutke said.

"Animal assisted therapy seems to be making a significant difference for a lot of people," she said."So let's let everyone know that.There are people coming to the conference from all over the world."

You can hear more on how children and adults with FASD are supported and treated in Million Dollar Babies: Beyond Denial and Damage of Fetal Alcohol Disorder a series airing Monday through Friday on CBC Radio in Edmonton.