Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

What are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

The phrase Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term for a range of disorders that can happen to a fetus during pregnancy due to the consumption of alcohol. These disorders can be mild to severe; they affect the brain, mental development, physiologic development, and structural development.

Alcohol disrupts the healthy and normal sequence of development of the fetus, causing immature cell structures. There are three categories of disorders:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)

Babies born with FAS can suffer from distorted facial features, growth problems, and central nervous system problems. Their difficulties can include problems with cognitive functions, memory, attention, communication, vision, and hearing. Because of a combination of issues, individuals with FAS can struggle with interpersonal relationships.

If a child is born with alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder, they can suffer from learning and behavior problems, including poor judgment and impulse control. Alcohol-related birth defects can include: kidney, liver, bone, and hearing problems; low IQ; and specific learning disabilities.

A person with an FASD might have:

Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
Small head size
Shorter-than-average height
Low body weight
Poor coordination
Hyperactive behavior
Difficulty paying attention
Poor memory
Difficulty in school (especially with math)
Learning disabilities
Speech and language delays
Intellectual disability or low IQ
Poor reasoning and judgment skills
Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
Vision or hearing problems
Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones

(source: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FASD)
Sample of problems facing children with FASD:

“ Jean is a recovering alcoholic. Her daughter has been to the hospital 10 times for heart and kidney problems. At 2, she can’t walk or talk.

Katie is 5. She has no friends, throws tantrums, and can’t read like other kids. Her teacher says she can’t sit still or pay attention. Her birth mother drank on the weekends. Her adoptive mother is upset.

Dana is in substance abuse treatment. Her 13-year-old daughter has been suspended from school three times and has no friends. The school psychologist isn’t sure what’s wrong.

These children have baffling problems. Even a psychologist is stumped. Since the birth mothers drank alcohol, the children might have various types of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).”
(source: Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, http://www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNKDiagnosis_5_colorJA_new.pdf)

Effects of Alcohol on Executive Functions

Executive Functions
Executive functions of the prefrontal cortex:	Effects of alcohol exposure on behaviors related to executive functions:
inhibition problem solving sexual urges planning time perception internal ordering working memory self-monitoring verbal self-regulation empathy regulation of emotion motivation judgment	socially inappropriate behavior, as if inebriated inability to figure out solutions spontaneously inability to control sexual impulses, esp. in social situations inability to apply consequences from past actions difficulty with abstract concepts or time and money like files out of order, difficulty processing information storing and retrieving information needs frequent cues, requires policing by others needs to talk to self out loud, needs feedback diminished sense of remorse, inability to understand others moody roller-coaster emotions, exaggerated need external motivators to complete menial tasks inability to weigh pros and cons when making decisions

(source: FAS Community Resource Center, Teresa Kellerman, Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Brain, http://www.come-over.to/FAS/FASbrain.htm)

FASD are not hereditary. If you are pregnant and do not consume alcohol (any quantity) then the fetus will not develop FASD.