FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

• Complications and concerns related to FAS

• The physical, mental, and emotional effects of children with FAS

• Students with FAS in the classroom

• Prevention, Diagnosis/screening, and treatment.

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of birth defects, learning, and behavioral problems effecting individuals whose mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Heavy drinking on a consistent basis or binge drinking on an occasional basis can produce FAS. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is currently the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States.

The alcohol that the pregnant woman drinks goes directly to the developing baby at the same level of concentration. For example, if mom’s blood alcohol level is 0.2, so is the baby’s. Of course mom is much larger and her liver detoxifies the alcohol. On the other hand, the fetus is incredibly small and its liver is not yet mature. Therefore, while mom might only stay drunk for a couple of hours, the developing fetus can remain drunk for three to four days.

The above chart shows each developing stage of a fetus. A fetus is constantly developing through out the entire pregnancy. Because the amount of alcohol that will danger a fetus is unknown, it is best to completely abstain from drinking the entire pregnancy.

Complications and Concerns

Complications and Concerns:

Alcohol and Women: 12% of women keep drinking while

pregnant The pattern of FAS usually occurs in

offspring of chronic alcohol abusers, most often in women who drink four to five drinks daily or more.

FAS is a pattern of birth defects that result from drinking alcohol during pregnancy, It occurs in one out of every 750 births.

FAS is the number one known cause of mental retardation in the United States, and one of the three leading causes of birth defects.

Each year, more than 40,000 American babies are born with defects because their mother drank alcohol when pregnant

Complications and Concerns:

Miscarriages: Heavy drinkers are two-to-

four times more likely to have a miscarriage between the fourth and sixth month of pregnancy than are nondrinkers.

Heavy drinkers are also two-to-three times more likely to lose their babies during the prenatal period, from the 28th week of pregnancy through the first week after birth.

Complications and Concerns: Most damage that occurs in the brain is a result of the brain tissue not

moving and growing where it should. This results in areas of the brain which are not developed at all or are underdeveloped. Neuronal connections that should have been made simply are not there. Since brain tissue does not regenerate, this damage to the brain is permanent, especially if the tissue never formed initially. It does not ever get better.

Dr. Rizwan Shah, director of the family ecology center in Des Moines, Iowa, estimated in 1994 the lifetime cost of a child born with FAS was 2.4 million dollars. The health care costs for individuals with FAS can be staggering. Special education costs are very high, especially if the individual needs to be placed in a special care facility. The emotional burdens on the family and child is monumental and many end up in adoptive or foster care. The child is very much aware that something is different about him or her. A great deal of the time they simply think they are dumb. The overwhelming majority of these parents, however, do an outstanding job of working with and loving their affected child. Many of these children are in adoptive or long-term foster care settings.

Complications and Concerns:

The outcome for infants with fetal alcohol syndrome varies dependingon the extent of symptoms, but almost none have normal brain development. There is no effective therapy for mental retardation. In general, the physical defects and mental deficiencies persist for a lifetime.

Infants and children with fetal alcohol syndrome have many different problems, which can be difficult to manage:

• Heart defects 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.• Pregnant women with alcoholism should join an alcohol abuse rehabilitation program and be checked closely by a health care provider throughout pregnancy.Women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should avoid drinking any amount of alcohol

Physical, Mental, and Emotional Effects:

Physical Effects:

Physical Effects:

1. Slowed intrauterine growth2. Poor growth in the fetus and

newborn3. Low muscle tone and poor

coordination4. Tremors in a newborn infant5. Strawberry birthmarks

(hemangiomas) on the skin

6. Smaller head than normal

7. Poor wake and sleep patterns

8. Thin Facial Abnormalities9. Short up-turned nose10. Receding Chin11. Low Birth Weight12. Kidney Troubles13. Heart Defects

Mental Effects: (ARND) Alcohol related neuro developmental disorder

The brain on the left is a picture of a normal 6 week old infant’s brain. The brain on the right is a picture of a 6 week old infant who has FAS.

FAS can also be referred to as ARND. ARND refers to the range of neurological impairments that can affect a child who has been exposed to alcohol in the womb.

ARND can affect many areas in cognitive functioning:

1. Mathematical deficiency2. Difficulty with abstraction (cause

and effect, time and space)3. Poor attention and

concentration skills4. Memory deficits5. Impaired judgment6. Problems generalizing between

one situation to another7. Lying and stealing8. Impulsiveness9. Hyperactivity10. Delayed development and signs

of mild-to-moderate mental retardation (IQ will range from 50 to 85, with an average in the mid 60s)

Emotional Effects:

Failure to thrive (eat and grow well) An exaggerated startle

response Poor wake and sleep

patterns Hyperactivity, distractibility

and attention deficits Impulsiveness Temper tantrums Problems with daily living Lack of control over

emotions

Students with FAS in the classroom:

FASD is the leading cause of intellectual disabilities

Students with FASD have difficulties with impulsivity, attention, planning, organizing, self-regulation, and self-monitoring

Tips for Teachers:

Be approachable, don’t make the student feel uncomfortable about asking questions

Know the student’s strengths and weaknesses

Be aware of times when the student is feeling anxious or frustrated and redirect activities

Maintain a structured environment: routines, schedules, classroom rules, and consequences that are repeated often and linked with choices

Use multi-sensory approaches with hands on activities and concrete materials to teach concepts.

FAS: Prevention

FAS is the only disorder that can be 100% prevented. Because there is no known safe amount of alcohol

consumption during pregnancy it is best to abstain from drinking completely during the entire pregnancy

Educating women before pregnancy will significantly reduce the chances of having a child with FAS

FAS information should be available at marriage-licensing bureaus and other appropriate public places including points of alcohol sale.

Northrop Grummon Health Solutions offers direct funding to improve FAS prevention and treatment. They can give up to $100,000 per year to each organization for up to four years.

Diagnosis/Screening

It is difficult to diagnose FAS before a baby is born, however, if the mother reports to her doctor the time and amount of alcohol consumption she’s had, then the doctor can assess the health of mother and baby during pregnancy

An exam of the baby may show a heart murmur or other signs of heart problems.

Diagnosis/Screening:

Tests include: Pregnancy ultrasound, which

can show slowed intrauterine growth

Infant electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram, which can find heart problems

Blood alcohol level in pregnant women who show signs of being intoxicated

As the child grows, the doctor can look for signs and symptoms of this syndrome to determine FAS

Evaluations of IQ and Language Development

FAS: Treatment Parents of children given

diagnosis of FAS should receive appropriate support services for themselves and their child

Early diagnosis therapy can help children respond to sensations, learn behavior patterns, and control volatile emotions

A stable home and nurturing environment may help reduce social problems associated with FAS

Children having FAS coming from stable homes were four times less likely to experience social problems such as incarceration, inappropriate behaviors, and substance abuse.

References:

Brief Overview of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Effects Copyright © 1996 Creative Consultants, Inc. Return to: Creative Consultants home page. http://members.aol.com/creaconinc/fas.html. November 12, 2007.

Drinking alcohol and taking drugs while pregnant-what it does to an unborn child. http://www.minti.com/image/d-200-1000/13550/AddBaby2.jpg Copyright 2007 Minti ™ November 13, 2007.

Duguette, Cheryll; Stodel, Emma; Fullarton, Stephanie; Hagglund, Karras. (2006). Teaching Students with Developmental Disabilities: tips from Teen and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Teaching Exceptional Children, Vol 39, p28-31.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Copyright 1998-2007. National Exchange Club Foundations. http://preventchildabuse.com/fas.htm. November 11, 2007.

“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.” MedLinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. 5 November 2007. (Retrieved 11 November 2007) <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/ 000911.htm>.

References:

“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.” MayoClinic.com. 23 May 2007. (Retrieved 11 November 2007) < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/DS00184/ DSECTION=1>

Montaigne, E. M. (1996)Brief Overview of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Effects. November 2, 2007http://members.aol.com/creaconinc/fas.html

Monti, M. Peter. (2004). Stable Home can Benefit Children with FAS. The Brown University Digest of Addiction theory and application, Vol 23, p10-10.

Seaver, H. L. (2007)Medical Encyclopedia. November 2, 2007http://www.answers.com/topic/fetal-alcohol-syndrome?cat=health

T, Buddy. Women Under 30 More Likely to Drink While Pregnant. ©2007 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. http://alcoholism.about.com/od/preg/a/blacer060601.htm. November 13, 2007.

References:

The preventable tragedy: Fetal Alcohol Syndromehttp://www.szulo.hu/kids/k38/alco38.htm. November 13, 2007.

(2006). Funding Available to improve FASD prevention, treatment. Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly, Vol 16, p6-7.