Children of alcohol addicted mothers often present deficits of memory, attention, hyperactivity, difficulties in understanding abstract terms, low control of impulses.

The aim was to assess the cognitive dysfunction level, and following that to estimate the optimal adjustment of the school environment for particular patients.

We recruited to our study patients aged between 9 and 18, being taken care of by a psychiatrist, and, partly, from a group of patients participating in a special adjustment rehabilitation program for children with FAS and FAE. The patients were examined with a computerized tests included in the VTS (Vienna Test System): COGNITRON, CORSI, RT (REACTION TEST) and, additionally SIGNAL and DAUF in patients matching age requirements.

Qualitative and quantitative deficits were found. In most patients the most significant were deficits in COGNITRON and CORSI tests, which presented a highly disturbed resistance to distractors, and deficits in working memory. The less characteristic were deficits in the RT test measuring reaction time to simple and complex stimuli. The most difficult to perform turned out to be SIGNAL and DAUF tests. Most of the patients did not manage to do the whole task because of a too low resistance to distractors.

The results of the studies confirmed the reports of teachers and caregivers about great problems that this group had with concentration, sustained attention, and vigilance. However they did not confirm or sometimes contradicted the reports concerning the problems with memory presented in school conditions, and when learning at home.