The lack of awareness of the effects of alcohol as a teratogen on a developing fetus is one reason for the high incidence of FASD.
A child who has FASD displays defects at birth or during development. The most common physical effects of FAS are:. Signs of central nervous system abnormalities include delayed development, behavioural problems, or learning disabilities and intellectual impairment. For example, children with FASD may develop the ability to speak or walk later than normal.
Behavioural problems may include hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, and short attention spans. Typical facial malformations features include short eye slits or drooping eyes, a thin upper lip, flattened cheekbones, and the absence of a distinct groove between the upper lip and nose.
A child with FASD may be smaller for their age than normal. At birth, the baby may be undersized or have a small head. Other defects include malformation of internal organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Visual impairment and hearing problems may also exist. Diagnosis of a child with FAS includes the mother's drinking history, a physical examination of the child and observation.
Impairments for ARND include learning disabilities, poor school performance, short attention span, poor judgment and impulse control, and memory problems. ARBD refers to the physical malformations caused by alcohol. The affected organs include the skeletal system, heart, kidneys, bones, and auditory system. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when the mother drinks a large amount of alcohol during her pregnancy. Mothers who drink on a regular basis or engage in binge drinking often have their children develop FAS.
Fetal alcohol effects occur when only a moderate amount of alcohol was consumed during pregnancy. The actual symptoms of FAS may be more severe than FAE, but that does not mean a child with FAE does not experience detrimental lifelong effects resulting from alcohol [2]. Both conditions are permanent and present a wide range of developmental disabilities.
Abstaining from all alcohol guarantees your child will not be born with the condition. If you are thinking of getting pregnant or are currently trying to conceive, it's best to stop drinking immediately in case you get pregnant and are not aware of it.
If you struggle with alcohol abuse, there are many substance abuse centers and pregnancy support groups that can help you prepare for your upcoming pregnancy [3]. It may be beneficial to fully complete a substance abuse treatment before trying to conceive so you will not face as many temptations to drink [3].
Your doctor should also have resources available to help you plan out your pregnancy and establish guidelines for other types of substances to avoid. Immature or inappropriate behavior Memory deficits Impulse control problems Poor judgment. The affected person's ability to control behavior is erratic and inconsistent. One day they can function in a reasonable manner. The next day or the next moment , they may be out of control, inappropriate, immature, forgetful, impulsive, and make unwise choices.
Streissguth et al, Report on Secondary Disabilities. Physician to Parent external icon. Parent to Parent external icon. Streissguth, A. Risk factors for adverse life outcomes in fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 5 4 , Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.
Basics about FASDs. Minus Related Pages. FASDs are preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy. Signs and Symptoms FASDs refer to a collection of diagnoses that represent the range of effects that can happen to a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
A person with an FASD might have: Low body weight Poor coordination Hyperactive behavior Difficulty with attention Poor memory Difficulty in school especially with math Learning disabilities Speech and language delays Intellectual disability or low IQ Poor reasoning and judgment skills Sleep and sucking problems as a baby Vision or hearing problems Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones Shorter-than-average height Small head size Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip this ridge is called the philtrum.
FASD Diagnoses.
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