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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Content source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal
alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). One of the most severe effects of
drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is one of
the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If
a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be born with FAS, a
lifelong condition that causes physical and mental disabilities. FAS is
characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central
nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS might have problems with
learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a
combination of these. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and
problems getting along with others. FAS is a permanent condition. It affects
every aspect of an individual’s life and the lives of his or her family.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the
range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol
during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or
learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term FASDs is not
intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.
FASDs include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have some,
but not all, of the clinical signs of FAS. Three terms often used are fetal
alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and
alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). The term FAE has been used to describe
behavioral and cognitive problems in children who were prenatally exposed to
alcohol, but who do not have all of the typical diagnostic features of FAS. In
1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) replaced FAE with the terms ARND and ARBD.
Children with ARND might have functional or mental problems linked to prenatal
alcohol exposure. These include behavioral or cognitive abnormalities or a
combination of both. Children with ARBD might have problems with the heart,
kidneys, bones, and/or hearing.
All FASDs are 100% preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is
pregnant.
How common are FAS and FASDs?
The reported rates of FAS vary widely. These different rates depend on the
population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show FAS rates
ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of the United
States. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three times as often as
FAS.
What are the
characteristics of children with FAS and other FASDs?
FAS is the severe end of a spectrum of effects that can occur when a woman
drinks during pregnancy. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome. FAS is a
disorder characterized by abnormal facial features and growth and central
nervous system (CNS) problems. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child
does not have all of the symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child has
another FASD, such as alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND).
Children with ARND do not have full FAS but might demonstrate learning and
behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Examples of these
problems are difficulties with mathematical skills, difficulties with memory or
attention, poor school performance, and poor impulse control and/or judgment.
Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics or exhibit the
following behaviors:
* Small size for gestational age or small stature in relation to peers
* Facial abnormalities such as small eye openings
* Poor coordination
* Hyperactive behavior
* Learning disabilities
* Developmental disabilities (e.g., speech and language delays)
* Mental retardation or low IQ
* Problems with daily living
* Poor reasoning and judgment skills
* Sleep and sucking disturbances in infancy
Children with FASDs are at risk for psychiatric problems, criminal behavior,
unemployment, and incomplete education. These are secondary conditions that an
individual is not born with but might acquire as a result of FAS or a related
disorder. These conditions can be very serious, but there are protective factors
that have been found to help individuals with FASDs. For example, a child who is
diagnosed early in life can be placed in appropriate educational classes and
given access to social services that can help the child and his or her family.
Children with FASDs who receive special education are more likely to achieve
their developmental and educational potential. In addition, children with FASDs
need a loving, nurturing, and stable home life to avoid disruptions, transient
lifestyles, or harmful relationships. Children with FASDs who live in abusive or
unstable homes or who become involved in youth violence are much more likely
than those who do not have such negative experiences to develop secondary
conditions.
If you think your child might have an FASD, contact your doctor who might be
able to refer you to a specialist who can assess your child.
How can we prevent FASDs?
FASDs are completely preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is
pregnant or could become pregnant. If a woman is drinking during pregnancy, it
is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better
it will be for both her baby and herself. If a woman is not able to stop
drinking, she should contact her doctor, local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local
alcohol treatment center. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator. This locator
helps people find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their area. If a woman
is sexually active and is not using an effective form of birth control, she
should not drink alcohol. She could become pregnant and not know it for several
weeks or more.
Mothers are not the only ones who can prevent FASDs. The father’s role is also
important in helping the mother abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
He can encourage her not drinking alcohol by avoiding social situations that
involve drinking and by not drinking alcohol himself. Significant others, family
members, schools, health and social service organizations, and communities can
also help prevent FASDs through education and intervention.
In February 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory on Alcohol Use in
Pregnancy to raise public awareness about this important health concern. To
reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, prevention efforts should target not only
pregnant women who are currently drinking, but also women who could become
pregnant, are drinking at high-risk levels, and are having unprotected sex.
Date: May 2, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
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