Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading preventable cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States. Women who need help to stop drinking alcohol can talk to their health care provider about treatment options. There are a variety of treatments available for pregnant women, including behavioral treatment and mutual-support groups. Visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator® to learn more about evidence-based treatments for alcohol-related problems.

Health Care Providers

Not all infants exposed to alcohol in utero will have detectable FASD or pregnancy complications. The risk of FASD increases with amount consumed, the frequency of consumption, and the longer duration of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, particularly binge drinking. 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.

Symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Drinking at any time during pregnancy is not safe and can harm your baby. Neurobehavioral disabilities in FASD include deficient global intellectual ability and cognition, and poor behavior, self-regulation, and adaptive skills. These domains should be measured using standardized testing, which often cannot be administered until after three years of age. Using alcohol during pregnancy is the leading cause of preventable birth defects, developmental disabilities and learning disabilities. However, the only way to prevent FAS is to avoid drinking beverages containing alcohol during pregnancy.

What Are the Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

The diagnosis is not based on a single symptom, and mild cases may be difficult to diagnose. Some FAS cases may be similar to other conditions that have some of the same characteristics, which can make diagnosis very difficult. There is no particular treatment for FASD, and the damage to a child’s brain and body cannot be reversed. Tony Loneman, a character in Tommy Orange’s 2018 novel There There, was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which he calls “the Drome”. Receiving treatment as soon as possible in childhood can help decrease the likelihood of developing these secondary effects in life.

What is the treatment for a child born with alcohol effects?

Prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome is the responsibility of all healthcare workers. The composition diagnostic team varies based on the age of the patient. In general, the diagnostic team includes a pediatrician and/or physician who may have expertise in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, nurse practitioner, social worker, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and psychologist.

• There are a multitude of reasons why it can be difficult to receive a diagnosis for an FASD.
• Treatment programs are individualised and are usually coordinated by a developmental paediatrician.
• Babies born to people who drink during pregnancy may have serious lifelong health problems, including FASDs.
• The latest data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey in Australia reveals that, despite this longstanding advice, nearly 1 in 3 pregnant women (28%) still drink alcohol.

All alcohol, including beer, wine, ciders and hard liquor can all cause FAS. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a drunken fetal syndrome group of conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth. FASDs are preventable if a baby is not exposed to alcohol before birth.

• Experts explain that diagnosis may involve a team of doctors and other professionals and may include a neuropsychological exam.
• The symptoms of this condition will be with the person throughout their entire life.
• They estimate that around 1 baby in every 1,000 born in the United States may be affected.
• When a person drinks alcohol during pregnancy, it acts as a toxin and interferes with the normal growth and development of the brain and body of the developing infant.

Support groups

For example, they may have difficulties with learning, have challenging behaviours, mental health problems, and find it difficult to get a job and live independently as an adult. Besides affecting the fetus, alcohol can induce the risk of spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, placental abruption, stillbirth, and amnionitis. One study found that the people with FAS had a significantly shorter life expectancy.6 With the average life span of 34 years old, a study found that 44% of the deaths were of “external cause”, with 15% of deaths being suicides. The prognosis of FASD is variable depending on the Alcoholics Anonymous type, severity, and if treatment is issued.citation needed Prognostic disabilities are divided into primary and secondary disabilities.

• FAS is 100% preventable when a woman abstains completely from alcohol consumption during her pregnancy.
• It’s also recommended that you avoid beverages containing alcohol when you’re trying to become pregnant.
• That said, any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of a baby developing an FASD.
• The lack of strong evidence linking lower levels of alcohol use to negative outcomes has sparked debate about whether abstinence is necessary.

This usually involves physical examinations and blood tests to rule out genetic conditions that have similar characteristics to FASD. Your child may be referred to a specialist team for an assessment if there’s a possibility they have the condition. Speak to a GP or health visitor if you have any concerns about your child’s development or think they could have FASD. FASD can happen when alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to her baby through the placenta.