Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS Treatment, Symptoms & Causes
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People with fetal alcohol syndrome have facial abnormalities, including wide-set and narrow eyes, growth problems and nervous system abnormalities. There are no medications to treat fetal alcohol syndrome specifically. But certain medicines can help with symptoms like hyperactivity, inability to focus, or anxiety. If you’ve already consumed alcohol during pregnancy, it’s never too late to stop.
Do people with FASD look different?
The presence or absence of facial features depends on whether alcohol was consumed in a very narrow window of time during pregnancy. It does NOT reflect the degree of brain disorder. The vast majority of people with FASD are not visibly different; you cannot see FASD.
Before trying any alternative therapy for FAS, parents or caregivers should speak with the child’s pediatrician or a doctor who specializes in FASDs. However, with early identification and support, children with FAS can learn important skills that can aid their development. Alcohol exposure in-utero can cause growth failure either apparent at birth or postnatally. Children older than 3 are not eligible for early intervention, but they can qualify for special education services before kindergarten or while enrolled in school. You can contact your local elementary school or board of education to request an evaluation. Alcohol detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own.
Can fetal alcohol syndrome be prevented or avoided?
As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us. Treatment involves stabilization, detoxification, and rehabilitation of the alcohol-dependent person. Alcohol problems vary in severity from mild to life threatening and affect the individual, the alcoholic’s family, and society in numerous adverse ways. We strive to make admission to Summit Malibu as simple and straightforward as possible. The rehab admission process can begin with a simple phone call to Summit Malibu, where our addiction treatment specialists are always available for confidential consultation.
You can avoid fetal alcohol syndrome by not drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you’re a woman with a drinking problem who wants to get pregnant, seek help from a doctor. If you’re a light or social drinker, don’t drink if you think you might become pregnant anytime soon. Remember, the effects of alcohol can make a mark during the first few weeks of a pregnancy.
How long has FAS been around?
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report estimates that during the time span of 2018–2020, 13.5% of pregnant women were currently drinking, and 5.2% were reported to be binge drinking in the US. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the severe end of a spectrum of effects that can occur when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. The characteristics of FAS include growth retardation, facial abnormalities, and central nervous system dysfunction. The extreme case of alcohol-related effects is the death of the fetus and miscarriage. Alcohol use during pregnancy causes life-long issues that can be very serious.
Some experts estimate that approximately 40,000 babies may be born with an FASD in the United States each year. The diagnostic criteria outlined in Tables 1 and and22 covers the full spectrum of the continuum, recognizing that it is sometimes impossible to confirm maternal drinking. Rather than excluding these cases, it is imperative that the diagnostic criteria enable professionals to make a diagnosis identifying specific areas of difficulty. Concomitant secondary disabilities, including mental health disorders, problems of substance abuse, and behavior disorder are most obvious during adolescence and adulthood.
Causes of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
It’s impossible to exactly pinpoint all of the development during pregnancy, making it risky to drink alcohol at any time prior to birth. The more you drink while pregnant, the greater the risk to your unborn baby. Your baby’s brain, heart and blood vessels begin to develop in the early weeks of pregnancy, before you may know you’re pregnant. The Surgeon General and the Secretary for Health and Human Services recommend total abstinence from alcohol for women planning pregnancy, at the time of conception and throughout the entire pregnancy.
Can you live a normal life with FAS?
Children and adults with FASD struggle with lifelong learning and behavioral problems, and without appropriate supports are at high risk for adverse conditions, such as mental health problems, trouble with the law, school disruption, and substance use.
All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including all wines and beer. The challenge for the physician is to identify women who are drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Problem drinkers cannot be identified by appearance or by socioeconomic characteristics. A systematic drinking history https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is essential and should be obtained from all patients during the initial history and in subsequent prenatal care. Other physical effects that are not quite as obvious include, reduced vision and visual acuity due to retinal malformations, speech pathologies, and awkward motor control.
Signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Adults
Early diagnosis may help to reduce problems such as learning difficulties and behavioral issues. Some individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome may show no signs or symptoms of this condition after infancy. However, many people with FAS will struggle with this condition for the rest of their lives. There are plenty of pregnant women who can’t stop drinking despite their unborn children. However, our Pennsylvania drug rehab is happy to say that we offer rehab for pregnant women with alcohol or drug addictions so they may heal and offer a better future to their children.
There can also be mental and emotional challenges throughout the person’s life that can impact their social life, education and work. There are no exact statistics of how many people have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose a person with FASD because of the variety of symptoms and spectrum of severity. Also, not all people who drink while pregnant feel comfortable talking to their healthcare provider. This means that some people with mild symptoms of FASD might never be diagnosed.
Your decisions for short-term joy can have long-lasting and severe effects on your baby. With time, FAS children tend to have eye, ear, and dental problems. Problems with the eustachian tube leading to the middle ear set the stage for ear infections. Children with FAS have enough difficulty in life without the additional burden of not being able to see, hear, and eat normally. However, the most common and consistent features of FAS involve the growth, performance, intelligence, head and face, skeleton, and heart of the child. Summit Malibu is the longest running boutique addiction treatment center in Malibu, California.
- Deciding to get pregnant is one of the most important reasons to seek help or treatment to stop drinking.
- Some experts estimate that approximately 40,000 babies may be born with an FASD in the United States each year.
- Children born with this syndrome experience the symptoms throughout their entire lives.
- However, the most common and consistent features of FAS involve the growth, performance, intelligence, head and face, skeleton, and heart of the child.
Brain growth in the fetus takes place throughout pregnancy, so stopping alcohol consumption as soon as possible is always best. Experts know that fetal alcohol syndrome fas symptoms is completely preventable if women don’t drink alcohol at all during pregnancy. There is no amount of alcohol that’s known to be safe to consume during pregnancy.