Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
The expert does an evaluation to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms to help make a diagnosis. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a group of conditions that can occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol while still developing in the uterus. Of the disorders that fall under FASD, fetal alcohol syndrome represents the most severe end of the spectrum. Binge drinking or heavy drinking throughout pregnancy might increase the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Characteristics of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
That said, any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of a baby developing an FASD. There are also several other disorders, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Williams syndrome, that can have some of the same symptoms. A doctor may refer a person for a neuropsychological assessment. This may consist of various tests to assess symptoms, such as cognitive function, attention, and memory.
What’s the outlook for teens with fetal alcohol syndrome?
The greater the amount of alcohol consumed, the more severe the symptoms tend to be. But this means a person must stop using alcohol before getting pregnant. A person should stop drinking at once if they think they could be pregnant. According to many studies, alcohol use appears to be most harmful during the first three months of pregnancy.
What’s the difference between fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?
To prevent FASDs, you should not drink alcohol while you are pregnant, or when you might get pregnant. In addition to the acute effects of withdrawal, babies often suffer the teratogenic (causing physical abnormalities) effects of alcohol. Specific deformities of the head and face, heart defects, and intellectual disability are seen with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome Parental training is meant to help parents to help families cope with behavioral, educational and social challenges. Parents might learn different routines and rules that can help their child adapt to different situations. Often, having a stable and supportive home can help children with FAS avoid developing mental and emotional difficulties as they get older.
What difficulties can teenagers with fetal alcohol syndrome experience in school?
- Unfortunately, people with FAS are more likely to experience legal troubles, have secondary mental health diagnoses, and have higher rates of suicide.
- As a result, a diagnosis requires insight from specialists from different fields who can carry out a thorough assessment of the different ways FASD can affect people.
- However, drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can potentially increase the risk of developmental delays and birth defects.
- Still, identification at any age can help a person get access to support and services to improve their quality of life.
- It’s also recommended that you not drink alcohol if you’re sexually active and not using effective birth control.
The variance seen in outcomes of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is poorly understood. Diagnosis is based on an assessment of growth, facial features, central nervous system, and alcohol exposure by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals. The main criteria for diagnosis of FASD is nervous system damage and alcohol exposure, with FAS including congenital malformations of the lips and growth deficiency.
Children with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families may benefit from the support of professionals and other families who have experience with this condition. Ask your healthcare professional or a social worker or mental health professional for local sources of support for children with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families. You may be familiar with a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This syndrome is part of a broader group of conditions called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which can be caused by alcohol use during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by drinking alcohol while pregnant. When a pregnant person drinks alcohol, the alcohol enters the bloodstream and can reach the bloodstream of the developing fetus.
- The variance seen in outcomes of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is poorly understood.
- The health care provider will make a diagnosis by looking at the child’s signs and symptoms and asking whether the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
- Drinking alcohol during this time can cause damage to how body parts develop.
- Some parents and their children seek alternative treatments outside of the medical establishment.
- A social worker can direct you to community programs that offer help, for example, Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Speak with a doctor if you’re pregnant and have been consuming alcohol.
The physical and mental conditions caused by alcohol exposure before birth are lifelong. But early intervention services may help lessen some of the challenges of fetal alcohol syndrome and may help prevent some secondary disabilities. Many features seen with fetal alcohol syndrome also may occur in children with other conditions. If fetal alcohol syndrome is suspected, your pediatrician or other healthcare professional will likely refer your child to an expert with special training in fetal alcohol syndrome. This may be a developmental pediatrician, a neurologist or another expert.