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Fetal
Alcohol Information
What are FAS and FASDs?
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal
alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). One of the most severe effects of
drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is one of
the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth
defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be
born with FAS, a lifelong condition that causes physical and mental
disabilities. FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth
deficiencies, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS
might have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication,
vision, hearing, or a combination of these. These problems often lead to
difficulties in school and problems getting along with others. FAS is a
permanent condition. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life and
the lives of his or her family.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the
range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol
during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral,
and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term
FASDs is not intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.
FASDs include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have
some, but not all, of the clinical signs of FAS. Three terms often used are
fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND),
and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). The term FAE has been used to
describe behavioral and cognitive problems in children who were prenatally
exposed to alcohol, but who do not have all of the typical diagnostic
features of FAS. In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) replaced FAE with
the terms ARND and ARBD. Children with ARND might have functional or mental
problems linked to prenatal alcohol exposure. These include behavioral or
cognitive abnormalities or a combination of both. Children with ARBD might
have problems with the heart, kidneys, bones, and/or hearing.
All FASDs are 100% preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she
is pregnant.
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How common are FAS and FASDs?
The reported rates of FAS vary widely. These different rates depend on the
population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show FAS
rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of
the United States. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three
times as often as FAS.
Click here to learn more about CDC FAS surveillance activities.
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What are the characteristics of children with FAS and other FASDs?
FAS is the severe end of a spectrum of
effects that can occur when a woman drinks during pregnancy. Fetal death is
the most extreme outcome. FAS is a disorder characterized by abnormal
facial features and growth and central nervous system (CNS) problems. If a
pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child does not have all of the
symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child has another FASD, such as
alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Children with ARND do
not have full FAS but might demonstrate learning and behavioral problems
caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Examples of these problems are
difficulties with mathematical skills, difficulties with memory or
attention, poor school performance, and poor impulse control and/or
judgment.
Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics or exhibit the
following behaviors:
- Small size for gestational
age or small stature in relation to peers
- Facial abnormalities such as
small eye openings
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Learning disabilities
- Developmental disabilities
(e.g., speech and language delays)
- Mental retardation or low IQ
- Problems with daily living
- Poor reasoning and judgment
skills
- Sleep and sucking
disturbances in infancy
Children with
FASDs are at risk for psychiatric problems, criminal behavior,
unemployment, and incomplete education. These are
secondary conditions that an individual is not born with
but might acquire as a result of FAS or a related disorder.
These conditions can be very serious, but there are
protective factors that have been found to help
individuals with FASDs. For example, a child who is diagnosed
early in life can be placed in appropriate educational classes
and given access to social services that can help the child
and his or her family. Children with FASDs who receive special
education are more likely to achieve their developmental and
educational potential. In addition, children with FASDs need a
loving, nurturing, and stable home life to avoid disruptions,
transient lifestyles, or harmful relationships. Children with
FASDs who live in abusive or unstable homes or who become
involved in youth violence are much more likely than those who
do not have such negative experiences to develop secondary
conditions.
If you think your child might have an FASD, contact your
doctor who might be able to refer you to a specialist who can
assess your child.
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How can we prevent FASDs?
FASDs are completely preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while
she is pregnant or could become pregnant. If a woman is drinking during
pregnancy, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops
drinking, the better it will be for both her baby and herself. If a woman
is not able to stop drinking, she should contact her doctor, local
Alcoholics Anonymous, or local alcohol treatment center. The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator. This locator helps people
find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their area. If a woman is
sexually active and is not using an effective form of birth control, she
should not drink alcohol. She could become pregnant and not know it for
several weeks or more.
Mothers are not the only ones who can prevent FASDs. The father’s role is
also important in helping the mother abstain from drinking alcohol during
pregnancy. He can encourage her not drinking alcohol by avoiding social
situations that involve drinking and by not drinking alcohol himself.
Significant others, family members, schools, health and social service
organizations, and communities can also help prevent FASDs through
education and intervention.
In February 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an
Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy to raise public awareness about
this important health concern. To reduce prenatal alcohol exposure,
prevention efforts should target not only pregnant women who are currently
drinking, but also women who could become pregnant, are drinking at
high-risk levels, and are having unprotected sex.
Click here to learn more about CDC’s FAS Prevention Activities.
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