What is it?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a condition that can develop as a result of alcohol consumption (or exposure to it) during pregnancy; drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can place the baby at risk of/for FASD. It can cause a range of disorders and developmental problems within the child. FASD is not just one disorder, but an umbrella term for a variety of disorders, which can be physically and mentally damaging. The defects caused by FASD are not reversible.
Causes:
FASD is caused by the consumption of alcohol by a woman during pregnancy. Some of that alcohol can pass across the placenta and to the fetus. A fetus’s body doesn’t process alcohol the same way as a human adult does; alcohol is much more concentrated in the body of a fetus. Hence, it can prevent adequate nutrition and oxygen from getting to the fetus’s organs. While any amount of alcohol consumption can put the fetus at risk, the risk increases in cases of heavy drinkers.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of FASD vary vastly in their degree. These symptoms can be intellectual, behavioral and cognitive. Some of them are-
Physical symptoms:
Facial defects like small eyes, thin upper lip and smooth skin between the nose and upper lip.
Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers.
Abnormally slow physical growth.
A small head.
Cognitive symptoms:
Weak memory.
Poor coordination or balance.
Hyperactivity.
Learning disabilities.
Behavioral symptoms:
Poor social skills
Poor adaptation skills
Trouble focusing on tasks and goals
Poor impulse control
Trouble keeping up with school work
Difficulty working with others.
Secondary disabilities:
These are the disabilities/problems that can develop because of FASD:
ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
Aggression, and breaking rules and laws
Alcohol or drug abuse.
Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety or eating disorders
Problems with independent living and with employment
Inappropriate sexual behaviors
Diagnosis:
Early diagnosis can help reduce the possibility of long-term problems for children with FASD. It can help battle the development of secondary disabilities. However, FASD can often go undiagnosed or underdiagnosed since it doesn’t necessarily exhibit overt physical defects. Moreover, the cognitive and behavioral problems caused by FASD can take some time to manifest; issues related to organization, memory, concentration, etc. are usually introduced to children when they begin preschool, which means that a child might go undiagnosed till then. There’s no specific diagnostic test for FASD, and it can only be diagnosed after birth. The doctor may assess a child’s cognitive and learning abilities, physical health, and social and behavioral skills.
Prevention:
FASD can be prevented by not consuming alcohol while trying to conceive and during pregnancy. One drastic measure can also be to consider not consuming alcohol at all during one’s childbearing years (in case of an unplanned pregnancy). If someone has alcohol addiction, they should get help before trying to get pregnant.
Treatment:
FASD as a whole is incurable. However, some of its symptoms can be treated. The earlier the diagnosis, the more progressive the treatment.
Providing a warm and nurturing environment can also go a long way since children with FASD might have problems with aggression and substance abuse if they had an abusive home environment.
While there is no specific medicine that treats FASD, there are certain medications that can be used for some of its symptoms, like antidepressants, antianxiety drugs and neuroleptics.
Behavioral training by professionals and extra help with academic work can also help.
Some people seek alternative treatments such as massage, acupuncture , exercise. But their effectiveness hasn’t been properly established yet.
- Ira Choudhary, Wordsmith
References
Davis, Krista & Desrocher, Mary & Moore, Timothy. (2011). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Neurodevelopmental Findings and Interventions. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 23. 143-167. 10.1007/s10882-010-9204-2.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (2017, August 9). Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/fetal-alcohol-syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome. (2018, January 10). Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352901