[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":205},["ShallowReactive",2],{"oacs-site-data":3,"page:\u002Fabout-facs\u002Fneurodevelopmental":99},{"id":4,"extension":5,"meta":6,"stem":97,"__hash__":98},"site\u002Fsite.yaml","yaml",{"name":7,"shortName":8,"navTitle":7,"navSubtitle":9,"legalName":9,"charityNumber":10,"charityNumberLabel":11,"tagline":12,"heroTitle":13,"heroLead":14,"description":15,"contactEmail":16,"nav":17,"donateAmounts":88,"cta":93},"OACS Charity","OACS","Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome","1116497","Registered Charity No. 1116497","Support for families affected by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome and valproate-related conditions","Support","Support, recognition, and improved services for families touched by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes.","OACS supports families affected by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome (FACS), Foetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS), and related conditions. Information on valproate, Epilim, and anti-convulsant medicines in pregnancy.","oacscharity.org@gmail.com",[18,26,45,51,56,79,85],{"label":19,"to":20,"feature":21},"Home","\u002F",{"title":22,"description":23,"ctaLabel":24,"to":25},"Supporting families living with F.A.C.S","Recognition, improved services, and support for families touched by Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes.","Get support","\u002Foacs-ireland",{"label":27,"to":28,"feature":29,"children":33},"About F.A.C.S","\u002Fabout-facs",{"title":30,"description":31,"ctaLabel":32,"to":28},"What is F.A.C.S?","Understand Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome, valproate risks, and the conditions it can cause.","Read about F.A.C.S",[34,37,41],{"label":35,"to":28,"description":36},"Overview","What F.A.C.S is and how it presents",{"label":38,"to":39,"description":40},"Risks & Diagnosis","\u002Fabout-facs\u002Frisks-and-diagnosis","Level of risk, Fetal Valproate Syndrome, and assessment",{"label":42,"to":43,"description":44},"Neurodevelopmental","\u002Fabout-facs\u002Fneurodevelopmental","Development, learning, communication, and behaviour",{"label":46,"to":47,"feature":48},"OACS Art Gallery","\u002Fart-gallery",{"title":46,"description":49,"ctaLabel":50,"to":47},"Creative work from children and adults across our community — celebrating every piece.","View the gallery",{"label":52,"to":25,"feature":53},"OACS Ireland",{"title":52,"description":54,"ctaLabel":55,"to":25},"Support, resources, and community for families affected by F.A.C.S across Ireland.","Visit OACS Ireland",{"label":57,"feature":58,"children":63},"About Us",{"title":59,"description":60,"ctaLabel":61,"to":62},"Meet the team","The people and aims behind OACS, working for recognition and support.","About OACS","\u002Fabout-us",[64,67,71,75],{"label":65,"to":62,"description":66},"Aims and Objectives","What we stand for",{"label":68,"to":69,"description":70},"Jo Cozens","\u002Fabout-us#jo-cozens","OACS Chairperson",{"label":72,"to":73,"description":74},"Karen Keely","\u002Fabout-us#karen-keely","OACS Trustee & Irish Liaison Officer",{"label":76,"to":77,"description":78},"Carol Lapidge","\u002Fabout-us#carol-lapidge","Support Trustee",{"label":80,"to":81,"feature":82},"News & Resources","\u002Fnews-resources",{"title":80,"description":83,"ctaLabel":84,"to":81},"Advocacy updates, the Sodium Valproate Inquiry, and resources for families and professionals.","Browse news & resources",{"label":86,"to":87},"Donate","\u002Fdonate",[89,90,91,92],10,25,50,100,{"title":94,"body":95,"button":96},"Support OACS","Donations help with admin, printing, outreach, and our website — so we can support more families.","Donate with PayPal","site","Tjhbe-BaURt8YEiBHgjLdrZWpDU6MVLCu9yjl7Z2Clo",{"id":100,"title":101,"body":102,"description":197,"disclaimer":198,"email":198,"extension":199,"eyebrow":27,"firstDoNoHarm":198,"heroBadge":198,"heroLead":198,"heroTitle":198,"meta":200,"navigation":201,"path":43,"quickLinks":198,"registerHref":198,"resourceLinks":198,"seo":202,"socials":198,"stem":203,"submitNote":198,"team":198,"valproateAlert":198,"website":198,"__hash__":204},"pages\u002Fabout-facs\u002Fneurodevelopmental.md","Neurodevelopmental effects",{"type":103,"value":104,"toc":187},"minimark",[105,110,114,117,121,124,143,147,150,154,157,161,164,168,180],[106,107,109],"h2",{"id":108},"development-learning-and-behaviour","Development, learning and behaviour",[111,112,113],"p",{},"Alongside the physical effects, Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome can affect a child's development, learning, communication, and behaviour. These effects vary from one individual to another, and not every child is affected in the same way.",[111,115,116],{},"A child exposed to valproic acid may be at a higher risk for learning and behavioural problems, which include ADHD and Autism.",[106,118,120],{"id":119},"neurodevelopmental-characteristics","Neurodevelopmental characteristics",[111,122,123],{},"Neurodevelopmental characteristics that may be seen include:",[125,126,127,131,134,137,140],"ul",{},[128,129,130],"li",{},"Developmental delay",[128,132,133],{},"Social Communication Disorder",[128,135,136],{},"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)",[128,138,139],{},"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)",[128,141,142],{},"Speech and language needs",[106,144,146],{"id":145},"thinking-and-learning","Thinking and learning",[111,148,149],{},"Cognitive development can be delayed, and while children with FVSD keep learning new skills, they often function below age-expected levels. Common differences include a shorter attention span, slower processing of information, holding less in mind at once, and difficulties with executive function — getting started on and finishing tasks, being organised, and planning. Formal assessment is important, so that difficulties are not simply assumed to be due to autism or another diagnosis.",[106,151,153],{"id":152},"sensory-processing","Sensory processing",[111,155,156],{},"Some people are slower to notice signals from their body or environment — such as hunger, pain, emotions, or needing the toilet — while others are highly sensitive to noise, movement or touch and can become easily overwhelmed. Calming strategies, quiet spaces, noise-cancelling headphones, and planned prompts can all help.",[106,158,160],{"id":159},"mental-health","Mental health",[111,162,163],{},"There is an increased risk of anxiety (social or more general), low mood, and differences in regulating emotions. A referral to a mental health team should be considered when emotional health is affecting daily life — and it is important that cognitive and language needs are assessed first, so support is pitched at the right level.",[106,165,167],{"id":166},"support-and-assessment","Support and assessment",[111,169,170,171,175,176,179],{},"Although there is no cure for FACS or FVSD, many of the possible signs and symptoms do have treatments or therapies available, and ",[172,173,174],"strong",{},"early intervention"," can make a real difference. A neuropsychological assessment can identify learning or behavioural difficulties — see ",[177,178,38],"a",{"href":39}," for when this is recommended.",[111,181,182,183,186],{},"In education and the workplace, ",[172,184,185],{},"reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010",", flexible timetables for appointments, written step-by-step instructions, extra time, and regular breaks can make a significant difference.",{"title":188,"searchDepth":189,"depth":189,"links":190},"",2,[191,192,193,194,195,196],{"id":108,"depth":189,"text":109},{"id":119,"depth":189,"text":120},{"id":145,"depth":189,"text":146},{"id":152,"depth":189,"text":153},{"id":159,"depth":189,"text":160},{"id":166,"depth":189,"text":167},"How Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome can affect a child's development, learning, communication, and behaviour.",null,"md",{},true,{"title":101,"description":197},"about-facs\u002Fneurodevelopmental","_zANsqmv2vXOmQ0ugmQ0tg-KHLaSualr130t1ixpYxo",1780613212072]