Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD

Alcohol can affect developing fetuses in a variety of ways, and the symptoms a person has determine which type of FASD diagnosis they receive. FASDs are a group of conditions that occur when fetuses have exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. In the United States, FASDs affect an estimated 1–5% of children in the first grade of school.

Medical Professionals

• While the defects vary from one person to another, the damage is often permanent.
• It is also important for people to seek support if they drink alcohol excessively.
• You do not need to wait for a healthcare provider’s referral or a medical diagnosis to make this call.
• FASDs can affect children in many ways, resulting in differences in thinking, behavior, or physical appearance.
• Parental training is meant to help parents to help families cope with behavioral, educational and social challenges.

In this article, we look at why FAS occurs and its symptoms, treatments, and risk factors. We also discuss how people can prevent FAS and when to see a doctor. However, recognizing the problem early and getting treatment for symptoms of the disorder can improve outcomes for your child. Other helpful resources include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). It’s important to understand that FASDs can result from occasional drinking as well.

What causes fetal alcohol syndrome and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?

FASD can happen when alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to her baby through the placenta. It is never too late to take steps to prevent FAS or to seek help for a child showing symptoms of FAS. People should speak with a doctor or FAS specialist as soon as possible if they have concerns.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Treatments

• People with FAS may have problems with their vision, hearing, memory, attention span, and abilities to learn and communicate.
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth.
• This is because there is some overlap between the symptoms of FASDs and the symptoms of exposure to other types of drugs, such as tobacco or illegal drugs.
• 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.
• The CDC explains that there’s no safe time to consume alcohol during pregnancy.

The challenges that occur along with fetal alcohol syndrome can be difficult to manage for the person with the condition and for the family. Treatment for the mother’s alcohol misuse can help with better parenting and prevent future pregnancies from being affected. drunken baby syndrome If you know or think you have a problem with alcohol or recreational drugs, ask a healthcare professional or mental health professional for help. If one child in a family is diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, it may be important to evaluate siblings for fetal alcohol syndrome if the mother drank alcohol during these pregnancies. 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.

• FASDs are caused by alcohol use at any time during pregnancy, even before a woman knows they’re pregnant.
• Children with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families may benefit from the support of professionals and other families who have experience with this condition.
• These children do well with a regular routine, simple rules to follow, and rewards for positive behavior.
• Such assistance can enable a person with FASD to maximize their independence and achievements.

WHAT IS NEW ON THIS TOPIC: FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS

These children do well with a regular routine, simple rules to follow, and rewards for positive behavior. But this means the mother must stop using alcohol before getting pregnant. A woman should stop drinking at once if she thinks she could be pregnant. Take our quiz to test your knowledge of prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms of the condition. Treatment strategies for FAS include nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions.

Preventing fetal alcohol syndrome

An FASD diagnosis provides families, pediatricians and nonphysician clinicians a framework for understanding an individual’s behavior. Science indicates that therapeutic interventions, special education and support services improve outcomes for patients and families. The protective effect of early FASD diagnosis can reduce the risk of additional disabilities and mitigate lifelong consequences. Ongoing care in a supportive pediatric home is an important component to achieving health and wellbeing for any child with an FASD and their family.

• A child with fetal alcohol syndrome needs to be watched closely to see if their treatment needs to be adjusted.
• Many of its symptoms can seem like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Be ready to answer questions so that you have time to talk about what’s most important to you.

While every individual with FASD has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, all people with FASD have some brain dysfunction as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of individuals who were exposed to alcohol in the womb. Caregivers who notice developmental delays, behavioral issues, or physical differences in their child should also seek help promptly. For example, if a child has two of the three characteristic facial signs of FAS and evidence of damage to the nervous system, a doctor may diagnose FAS.

Stopping alcohol consumption as early as possible can help reduce the chance of FASDs. Ideally, people who are trying to get pregnant should not drink at all, as this is the only way to prevent these conditions. The risks of drinking during pregnancy are higher in those who do not have a usual doctor they see throughout pregnancy and those who experience frequent mental distress.