FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME
The Facts About FAS and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
What causes FAS? Exposure to alcohol during prenatal period
More frequent alcohol use increases the risk to the fetus.
Only a few drinks during critical phases of development may lead to FASD. Critical stages of development occur within the first month of
pregnancy. (Frequently, the mother does not know she is pregnant before alcohol exposure has harmed the fetus).
Fathers who drink heavily prior to the conception of the baby may adversely affect the baby.
QUESTIONS ?
What if I only drink a
little while pregnant?I don’t drink the hard stuff…
is that okay?Will I be okay if I stop the last
few months.
Beer doesn’t count, does it?
Alcohol Exposure During the Pregnancy Trimesters
First: During the first trimester, alcohol interferes with the migration and organization of brain cells and the formation of the central nervous system.
Second: Heavy drinking during the second trimester, particularly from the 10th to 20th week after conception, seems to cause more clinical features of FAS than at other times during pregnancy.
Third: During the third trimester, the hippocampus is greatly affected, which leads to problems with encoding visual and auditory information (reading and math) and the inability to form or retain new memories.
Red = Great alcohol sensitivityYellow = Continued alcohol sensitivity
Effects on the growing baby…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vywUOQFo0JI
FAS Physical Characteristics
Head
•Small head circumference•Small eye openings•Smooth, wide philtrum•Thin upper-lip
Other •Organ deformities•Skeletal abnormalities•Central nervous system damage•Behavioral problems
* Facial characteristics may not be present at all if the mother did not drink alcohol during the brief period that the mid-face was forming - around the 20th
week of pregnancy
Intellectual Characteristics
•IQ ranges from very low to above average
•Difficulty storing and retrieving information
•Struggles with abstract concepts
•Trouble staying at task
•Difficulty generalizing knowledge and experiences
Behavioral Issues
•Unaware of social mores
•Poor judgment
•Hyperactivity
•Impulsive
•Emotionally Immature
•Unable to remember and or apply rules
*Problems often intensify as the child moves though the teen years and manifest in criminal behaviors
Degree of DisabilityMild Disability
Developmental delays IQ normal to above
normal Learning disabilities Behavioral disabilities
including ADHD, impulsiveness, and anxiety
Little or no physical deformities
Severe Disability
Developmental delays Mean IQ under 70 Learning disabilities Behavioral disabilities
including ADHD, impulsiveness, and anxiety
Profound physical deformities
Remember, “STRATEGIES NOT SOLUTIONS!”
FAS Children do learn, but all learn differently, “find what works best and stick to it!”
Create a friendly and structured home environment that is familiar. . .
Creating routines/schedules serves as anchors of time for children with FAS/ARND
Limit changes in their routine/schedules “less is better!” to avoid overwhelming
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is… The leading cause of
mental retardation in the western civilization.
Notable Facts and Statistics
In comparison…
Of all the substances of abuse including heroin, cocaine, and marijuana,
alcohol produces by far the most
serious neurobehavioral
effects in the fetus.
Childbearing Women…
Over 50% of women of childbearing age drink alcohol.
Only 39% of women of childbearing age even know what FAS is.
To Drink or Not to Drink? About 20% of women who
are known to be pregnant continue to drink during their pregnancy.
The incidence of drinking during pregnancy has increased substantially in the past several years, possibly due to the misleading media message that a drink a day is healthy.
Women at the Highest Risk of Drinking During Pregnancy include….
Women who smoke Women who are
single Women who are in
college or have a degree
Women in households with incomes over $50,000
In the United States…
At least 5,000 infants are born each year in the U.S. with full FAS, or approximately one in every 750 live births.
Beyond FAS… Every year in the U.S. between
35,000 and 50,000 babies are born with Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND) that will interfere with their ability to function in life.
FAS falls under the umbrella of Disorders that ARND represents, however it is a specific diagnosis. ARND represents a wide range of defects and disorders.
ARNDFAS
Alcohol Related Neurodevelopment Disorder…
ARND affects one out of every one hundred babies in North America, making alcohol the leading cause of brain damage today.
1/100
Intellectual Effects of FAS…
While many individuals with FAS have mental retardation, most individuals with FAS have an IQ in the normal range.
Physical and Mental Effects…
Persons with FAS and ARND have serious problems with attention deficits, impulse control, judgment,
and memory.
Although many of the physical characteristics associated with FAS become less prominent after
puberty, behavioral and emotional problems become more pronounced.
Social Development…
Among children with FAS and
ARND up to age 15, the social maturation
process seems to be stunted at the level of a 6 year
old child. http://www.fasarizona.com/
Fetal Alcohol Resource Center of Tucson
Achieving Independence…
Fewer than 10% of individuals with FAS or ARND are able to achieve success in living
and working independently.
http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/07/29/92136-group-helps-families-cope-with-fetal-alcohol-syndrome/
The Father’s Effect… While only the
mother’s drinking can cause FAS or ARND, the father’s drinking can lower testosterone levels, decrease healthy sperm, and increase the risk of disorders in offspring.
Preliminary animal studies indicate that alcohol can damage the DNA in male sperm.
Financial Impact…
Each year, taxpayers spend
$1.9 billion to treat children and adults diagnosed
with FAS.
FAS and ARND are bothPREVENTABLE