Most children will have normal intelligence while others will have mental retardation. Many children have serious problems with attention, impulse control, behavior, judgment, problem-solving, abstract concepts, and memory. As children with FAS mature, they may have difficulty performing in school, keeping jobs, and maintaining healthy relationships. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important to help maximize a child’s potential. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of preventable conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
- Treatment needs vary but include psychoactive medications, behavioral interventions, tailored accommodations, case management, and public resources.Globally, one in 10 women drinks alcohol during pregnancy, and the prevalence of having any FASD disorder is estimated to be at least 1 in 20.
- Assessment of these additional features was subjective in some cases.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe condition within a group of conditions called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
- If you’ve already consumed alcohol during pregnancy, it’s never too late to stop.
- Also, not all people who drink while pregnant feel comfortable talking to their healthcare provider.
- This can contribute to a better understanding of the developmental pathogenesis of the disorder, while at the same time aid the practicing clinician in appreciating the breadth of features that might indicate that a patient has been affected by alcohol.
Alcohol use during pregnancy can interfere with the baby’s development, causing physical and mental defects. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe condition within a group of conditions called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Diagnosis of FASD should be considered based on the clinical presentation or suspicion of maternal alcohol exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diagnostic criteria for FAS require three specific facial findings (i.e., smooth philtrum, thin vermilion border of the upper lip, and short palpebral fissures), growth deficits, and CNS abnormalities (Table 14 and Figure 3). In the absence of characteristic facial findings, the diagnosis of FASD still should be considered in children with growth problems, CNS abnormalities, and a history of prenatal alcohol exposure. Even in patients who clearly have met diagnostic criteria, referral allows complete assessment for an individualized management plan (Table 34).
V. History: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Assessment of these additional features was subjective in some cases. For example, a goniometer was not used to specifically determine the degree of joint contractures, incomplete extension of one or more digits or decreased supination/pronation at the elbows. With respect to palmar creases, any deviation from the usual three deep creases on the palm was categorized as “other palmar crease abnormality”. Children who did not meet the criteria for either the FAS or Deferred group were classified into a “No FAS” group. Infants with FAS often are irritable, overly sensitive to noise, behind in their development, have trouble eating and sleeping, have too little or too much muscle tone, and don’t like to be held. If a child exhibits these symptoms or the other problems mentioned above and the mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy, a trained medical professional can evaluate the child for FAS.
How can you help a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Estimates of the occurrence rate for FAS vary from .3-3 per 1,000 live births. To prevent FASDs, a woman should avoid alcohol if she is pregnant or might be pregnant. This is because a woman could get pregnant and not know drunken fetal syndrome for up to 4 to 6 weeks.
- There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant.
- A study demonstrated that more than one-half of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders do not consume the recommended dietary allowance of fiber, calcium, or vitamins D, E, and K.
- Because brain growth takes place throughout pregnancy, stopping alcohol use will improve the baby’s health and well-being.
- A diagnosis of FAS meets the “presumptive diagnosis” requirements of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, allowing children younger than three years to receive services even if their test results fall in the normal range.
- Most people with FASD have most often been misdiagnosed with ADHD due to the large overlap between their behavioral deficits.
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s offers compassionate, expert neonatal care and surgery for preemies and newborns with complex medical conditions.
During those early weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is going through a massive surge of development. The beginning of fetal development is the most important for the whole body, but organs like the brain continue to develop throughout pregnancy. It’s impossible to exactly pinpoint all of the development during pregnancy, making it risky to drink alcohol at any time prior to birth. Social services are needed to ensure a safe home environment and provide parental education. Early identification and intervention results in significantly improved outcomes.
- No one particular treatment is correct for everyone with fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Other strengths of this study include the cross-cultural nature of the sample, and the unprecedented number of children with FAS or some features of FAS who were examined in a standard fashion.
- Alcohol use during pregnancy can interfere with the baby’s development, causing physical and mental defects.
- This is because a woman could get pregnant and not know for up to 4 to 6 weeks.
There isn’t a direct test for FAS, and pregnant women may not give a complete history of all alcohol intake during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome happens when a person drinks any alcohol during pregnancy, including wine, beer, hard ciders and “hard liquor”. One reason alcohol is dangerous during pregnancy is that it’s passed through your bloodstream to the fetus through the umbilical cord. The baby doesn’t metabolize (break down) alcohol in the same way an adult does – it stays in the body for a longer period of time.
Symptoms and Causes
Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Damage to marijuana addiction your developing baby can happen at any point during pregnancy. All alcohol, including beer, wine, ciders and hard liquor can all cause FAS.
MANAGING BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
Some babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) that may include some but not all of the symptoms of FAS. These babies may be normal physically and mentally but have other symptoms such as hyperactivity and behavior problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of pregnant women who consume alcohol increased from 7.6% in 2012 to 10.2% in 2015, and the number of pregnant women reporting binge drinking (at least four alcoholic beverages at once) increased from 1.4% to 3.1%.