Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

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. 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. Most often, a healthcare provider can diagnose FASDs based on the mother’s history and how the baby looks. The healthcare provider will examine the baby to look for changes in the face, eyes, and upper lip. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated specific drugs for treating the symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol in babies.

What You Need to Know About Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

Medicine may help a child’s attention problems or hyperactive behaviors. Over time, your child may get help from special education programs and social services. The full picture of FAS usually occurs in babies born to alcoholic mothers, or those who drink more than four to five drinks each day. Even light or moderate drinking can affect the developing fetus.

More on Health & Pregnancy

• Some research suggests that a pregnant person’s environment may also play a role.
• If you have concerns about your child’s learning or behavior, talk with your child’s healthcare professional to find out what might be causing these problems.
• Children with FAS also experience learning and behavioral challenges.

This team may include a doctor or pediatrician with experience diagnosing FASDs, a psychologist, a speech-language therapist, and an occupational therapist. The timing, frequency, and amount of alcohol all contribute to the chance and severity of FASDs. However, the exact way alcohol disrupts fetal development is complex and not fully understood. As such, there is no known safe amount of alcohol people can drink during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. People with fetal alcohol syndrome have a life expectancy of about 34 years.

Treatment for alcohol misuse

ND-PAE is the only one of the FASDs to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). In this case, the mother must have consumed more than 13 alcoholic beverages during each month (30 drunken baby syndrome days) of pregnancy or more than two alcoholic beverages at a time. 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. Rivkin and colleagues at Boston Medical Center used volumetric MRI imaging to study the brain structures of 21 young adolescents with prenatal substance exposures and 14 with no exposures. Adolescents exposed prenatally to cocaine, alcohol, or cigarettes showed reductions in total brain volume and in gray matter in the brain’s cerebral cortex, important in many cognitive functions.

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. This article examines symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of FAS in adults. However, not every person with an FASD will behave in this way. Receiving special support will reduce the risk of FASD outbursts.

Parental training teaches you how to best interact with and care for your child. Children with FAS will benefit from a stable and loving home. They can be even more sensitive to disruptions in routine than an average child. Children with FAS are especially likely to develop problems with violence and substance abuse later in life if they are exposed to violence or abuse at home. These children do well with a regular routine, simple rules to follow, and rewards for positive behavior. Damage can be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy when a woman might not yet know that she is pregnant.

What are the risk factors for FASD?s

If you’re a heavy drinker, reach out to a doctor for support. 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.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Diagnosis & Treatments

There is frequent malalignment and malocclusion of the teeth. Children with FAS have enough difficulty in life without the additional burden of not being able to see, hear, and eat normally. If you suspect your child may already have an FASD, a doctor can also help you find the support you need for your child’s development and your own well-being. The risk of FASDs increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. That said, any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of a baby developing an FASD.