FASD: A Doctor's Story

Summary

The speaker, a pediatrician, recounts their journey in diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Initially unaware of FASD in the 80s and 90s, they discovered its significance in the mid-2000s. After overcoming the lack of local training, they established a clinic in 2014, diagnosing over a hundred cases since. The speaker advocates for FASD education in health professional training and mainstream conversation, drawing parallels to the increased awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker is a paediatrician who received training in the 80s and 90s when FASD was not well-known in Australia.
• 👩‍⚕️ In the mid-2000s, the speaker encountered a case suggesting FASD but had to seek training overseas due to the lack of local resources.
• 🌏 The only available training for FASD at that time was in Vancouver, Canada, highlighting a significant gap in Australian medical education.
• 🏥 The speaker's team opened a clinic in 2014, significantly increasing the number of FASD diagnoses from one between 2000-2013 to over a hundred since 2014.
• 🔍 The increase in diagnoses is attributed to improved knowledge and skill rather than changes in personnel or diagnostic tools.
• 📈 There are now multiple clinics dedicated to FASD, including the Gold Coast clinic and Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic.
• 🏫 The speaker advocates for better education and training on FASD for health professionals and suggests incorporating FASD modules into health-related university courses.
• 🌐 FASD awareness and education should be expanded to include allied health, nursing, and medicine to ensure a comprehensive approach.
• 🗣️ The speaker calls for FASD to be a mainstream conversation topic, similar to the increased awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• 👋 The script includes a light-hearted interaction, indicating a positive and engaging approach to discussing FASD with patients.

Q & A

What was the speaker's profession and when did they receive their training?

The speaker is a paediatrician who received their training in the eighties and nineties.

What was the speaker's initial knowledge about FASD when they first encountered it?

The speaker had very little knowledge about FASD and had to ask what it was when a foster carer mentioned it.

Where did the speaker have to go to receive training in FASD?

The speaker had to go overseas to Vancouver, Canada to receive training in FASD as none was available in Australia at the time.

When did the speaker's team first open their clinic for diagnosing FASD?

The speaker's team first opened their clinic for diagnosing FASD in 2014.

How many children were diagnosed with FASD between 2000 and 2013 according to the speaker?

Between 2000 and 2013, only one child was diagnosed with FASD.

How many children have been diagnosed with FASD since the clinic opened in 2014?

Since 2014, over a hundred children have been diagnosed with FASD.

What has changed between the period of one diagnosis and over a hundred diagnoses, according to the speaker?

The people and tools used have not changed, but the speaker attributes the increase in diagnoses to improved knowledge and skill base about FASD.

What role does the speaker believe there is for better education and training around FASD?

The speaker believes there is a role for better education and training for health professionals, and also suggests incorporating basic modules on FASD into all health-related university courses.

Which specific clinics are mentioned in the script as being involved in FASD diagnosis?

The Gold Coast clinic started by Doug Shelton and the Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic are mentioned.

What does the speaker suggest to increase awareness and discussion about FASD?

The speaker suggests that FASD needs to become a mainstream conversation topic, similar to how Autistic Spectrum Disorder became a topic of mainstream conversation in the nineties and recent years.

What is the speaker's opinion on the visibility of FASD in public discourse?

The speaker believes that FASD needs to come out of the closet and be discussed more openly.

Outlines

00:00

👨‍⚕️ Journey of a Pediatrician in FASD Diagnosis

The speaker, a pediatrician trained in the 80s and 90s, discusses the limited knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Australia during his early career. In the mid-2000s, he encountered a foster mother who suspected her children had FASD, prompting his interest. Despite a lack of local training, he and his team had to travel to Vancouver, Canada, to learn about FASD diagnosis. They established their clinic in 2014 and have since diagnosed over a hundred cases, highlighting the significant increase in both knowledge and skill in diagnosing FASD. The speaker emphasizes the need for better education and training in FASD for health professionals and suggests incorporating basic FASD modules into health-related university courses, including allied health, nursing, and medicine. He also calls for FASD to be a mainstream conversation topic, similar to how Autism Spectrum Disorder has become in recent years.

Keywords

💡Paediatrician

A paediatrician is a medical doctor specializing in the health and development of children from birth to young adulthood. In the video, the speaker is a paediatrician who highlights the evolution of their knowledge and practice in relation to FASD. The term is crucial as it sets the context for the speaker's authority and experience in diagnosing and treating children, particularly in the area of FASD.

💡FASD

FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The video script discusses the speaker's journey in learning about FASD and the impact of increased knowledge and training on its diagnosis. The term is central to the video's theme, as it represents the condition that the speaker and their team are dedicated to understanding and treating.

💡Training

Training in the context of the video refers to the educational programs and professional development opportunities that health professionals undertake to enhance their skills and knowledge. The speaker mentions the lack of training in FASD in Australia, which led them to seek it in Vancouver, Canada. This keyword is significant as it underscores the importance of continuous learning and the challenges faced in acquiring specialized knowledge in FASD.

💡Outpatient Clinic

An outpatient clinic is a healthcare facility where patients receive treatment without being admitted to the hospital. In the script, the speaker recounts an experience at an outpatient clinic where they first encountered a case of suspected FASD. This setting is pivotal as it marks the beginning of the speaker's increased focus on FASD and the eventual establishment of specialized clinics.

💡Diagnosis

Diagnosis in the video refers to the process of identifying a disease or condition through evaluation of signs and symptoms. The speaker discusses the evolution from diagnosing only one child with FASD between 2000-2013 to over a hundred since 2014, highlighting the improvement in diagnostic skills and knowledge. The term is integral to the video's message, emphasizing the progress made in identifying and treating FASD.

💡Gold Coast Clinic

The Gold Coast Clinic is mentioned as one of the clinics that have been established for the diagnosis and treatment of FASD. The establishment of such clinics is a significant development in the video's narrative, as it represents the expansion of services and expertise in addressing FASD, which was once a relatively unknown condition in Australia.

💡Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic

Similar to the Gold Coast Clinic, the Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic is another facility mentioned in the script that focuses on FASD. The mention of this clinic, along with others, illustrates the growing network of specialized services for FASD and the speaker's involvement in these initiatives.

💡Education and Training

Education and training are emphasized in the video as critical for improving the identification and management of FASD. The speaker suggests that FASD modules should be incorporated into health-related university courses to ensure that future health professionals are equipped with the necessary knowledge. This keyword is central to the video's advocacy for better preparation of healthcare providers in dealing with FASD.

💡Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. The video draws a parallel between the increased awareness and acceptance of ASD and the need for a similar shift in attitudes towards FASD. This comparison serves to illustrate the potential for societal change in understanding and addressing FASD.

💡Mainstream Conversation

The term 'mainstream conversation' in the video refers to the idea that FASD should be openly discussed and recognized in society, similar to how ASD has become a more accepted topic of discussion. This keyword is important as it reflects the speaker's goal to reduce stigma and increase understanding of FASD, making it a more visible and addressable issue.

💡High Five

A 'high five' is a friendly gesture of congratulations or approval, often used in informal settings. In the video, the speaker uses the term in a light-hearted exchange, possibly with a child, which adds a personal and relatable touch to the discussion. It serves as a reminder of the human connection and positivity that can be found even when dealing with complex medical conditions like FASD.

Highlights

The speaker is a paediatrician trained in the eighties and nineties when little was known about FASD in Australia.

In the mid 2000s, the speaker encountered a foster mother who suspected her children had FASD, prompting the speaker's interest.

The speaker's initial lack of knowledge about FASD led to a quest for training, which was unavailable in Australia at the time.

The only training available for FASD was found overseas in Vancouver, Canada.

The speaker's journey in FASD diagnosis began with a team formed after obtaining training from Canada.

The first clinic for FASD diagnosis opened in 2014 after a period of limited knowledge and diagnosis.

Between 2000 and 2013, only one child was diagnosed with FASD, highlighting the initial lack of awareness and expertise.

Since 2014, over a hundred children have been diagnosed with FASD, indicating a significant increase in knowledge and skill.

The tools for diagnosis have not changed, but the knowledge and skill base of the professionals have improved.

The Gold Coast clinic started by Doug Shelton is mentioned as a significant development in FASD diagnosis.

Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic, led by Liz Elliot, is another key clinic mentioned.

The speaker advocates for better education and training around FASD for health professionals.

FASD education should be incorporated into all health-related university courses, including allied health, nursing, and medicine.

The speaker calls for FASD to become a mainstream conversation topic, similar to the awareness gained by Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

The transcript ends with a light-hearted interaction, showing a positive and engaging approach to the subject.

Transcripts

I’m a paediatrician who received his training in the eighties and nineties,

and back then very little was known in Australia about FASD.

In about the mid 2000’s I was working in an outpatient clinic,

and a very lovely lady with two children, in her foster care came into my clinic

and I said “how can I help you?”

and she said “I think these children have FASD”

and I said to her

“What’s that?”

Unfortunately though,

when I tried to find some training in FASD,

none was available in Australia.

And indeed the only way we could source training was to go overseas to Vancouver, Canada.

And that ah, started our journey as a team

in the diagnosis of FASD.

And we first opened our clinic in 2014.

Between 2000-2013, we only diagnosed one child with FASD.

Since 2014 we’ve diagnosed over a hundred

and the people haven’t changed, the tools that we use haven’t changed,

but what has changed is our knowledge and our skill base about FASD.

"So we’ve got the Gold Coast clinic that Doug Shelton started"

"Ah, Westmead Children’s Hospital Clinic that Liz Elliot"

I think there’s definitely a role for better education and training around FASD,

and that’s for people who are already health professionals,

but I also think that basic modules on FASD should be incorporated into every University

course that is to do with health.

So that would include allied health in all their various forms.

Nursing, and Medicine.

“What else have you been doing today, Have you been having fun?”

Yeah.

FASD needs to come out of the closet and make it a topic of mainstream conversation.

In a similar way to what happened with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the nineties,

and in the last few years.

"Yeh another high five"

"oh"

"high five" "what about a proper one?"