fetal alcohol syndrome - sps186.org
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)
Incidence
• 1 in every 750 infants is born with fetal alcohol syndrome each year.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading known preventable cause of mental and physical birth defects in the United States.
Etiology • Condition resulting form prenatal alcohol
exposure
• When a mother drinks alcohol, it enters her bloodstream and reaches her developing fetus by crossing the placenta.
• Fetus metabolizes alcohol more slowly
• Interferes with delivery of oxygen and nutrition
Etiology
• The more she drinks while pregnant, the greater the risk to her unborn baby. The risk is present at any time during pregnancy.
• The first trimester is crucial for organ, bone and central nervous system development.
Signs & Symptoms • Causes lifelong, irreversible defects
which may include severe physical, behavioral and mental problems including:
• low birth weight
• small head circumference
• failure to thrive
• developmental delay
• organ dysfunction (heart)
• low muscle tone
Signs & Symptoms • Facial abnormalities
• Smaller eye openings
• Flattened cheekbones
• Indistinct philtrum
• Epilepsy
• Poor coordination/fine motor skills
• Poor socialization skills
• Learning difficulties
• Behavioral problems
• Possible cleft palate
Risk Factors
• The more a mother drinks while pregnant, the greater the chance of problems.
• There is no safe amount of alcohol declared.
• Do not drink if thinking of becoming pregnant or if confirmed pregnant.
Tests & Diagnosis • Doctors can’t diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome
before a baby is born but they can assess the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy.
• If the mother reports the timing and amount of alcohol consumption to her health care provider, he or she can help determine the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Tests & Diagnosis • Doctor will look for the
following signs postnatal for possible diagnosis:
• Growth
• facial features
• heart defects
• hearing
• vision
• cognitive ability
• language development
• motor skills
• behavior
Tests & Diagnosis
• A doctor may refer a child to a genetic specialist to rule out other disorders with similar signs and symptoms.
Treatment & Drugs • There is no cure or treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome.
• The physical defects and mental deficiencies typically persist for a lifetime
• Heart abnormalities may require surgery
• Learning problems may be helped by special services in school.
• Parents often benefit from counseling to help the family with a child’s behavior problems
Prevention is Key! • Stop drinking alcohol altogether if planning to become
pregnant.
• Continue to avoid alcohol throughout the pregnancy
• Many pregnancies are unplanned and damage can occur in the earliest weeks of pregnancy
• If an alcohol problem exists, a mother should get professional help before she becomes pregnant to determine her level of dependence on alcohol and to develop a treatment plan
Effects on Occupational Performance
• Feeding
• Sensory Issues
• Gross/Fine motor delays
• Low muscle tone
• Education to caregiver (i.e. environmental changes, interaction & stress)
• Behavioral issues