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Fetal alcohol disorders are common
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, alcohol use among women of childbearing age is over 50 percent. Meanwhile, over 15 percent of pregnant women self-reported some alcohol use.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy, no safe time in pregnancy to consume alcohol and no type of alcohol that is safe during pregnancy.
Exposure of the fetus to alcohol during development can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. These conditions represent a range of birth defects from abnormalities in facial development to defects in growth and defects of the nervous system. Evidence suggests that the prevalence of these conditions in the United States may be as high as 1.5 out of every 1,000 live births.
Some common physical deformities in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders include small head size, small stature, low birth weight and low body weight, facial abnormalities and problems with the kidneys, heart and bones.
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders may have difficulty with coordination and attention, hyperactivity, speech delays, learning disabilities, school performance, visual and hearing problems and low IQ. The most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is fetal alcohol syndrome.
There is no blood test or medical test for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Diagnosis often is made through a combination of observed facial deformities, low weight and/or height, developmental or central nervous system problems and history of prenatal alcohol exposure.
There is no cure for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. However, treatment options include parental training and behavioral and education therapy. Medications can treat some symptoms such as hyperactivity or other behavioral problems.
According to the CDC, certain protective factors have been identified that allow people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders to reach their full potential. These include early age of diagnosis (before age 6); a loving, supportive home environment especially during the school years; absence of violence, and involvement in special education services.
Since early diagnosis and intervention are so important, parents or other child advocates who suspect a child may have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder should bring this concern to the attention of the child's medical provider. The medical provider in turn, may initiate referral to a specialist in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders such as a developmental pediatrician or child psychologist. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders also commonly qualify for state-funded early assessment and intervention programs.
The most important thing to know about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is that they are 100 percent preventable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Since pregnancy often is not diagnosed for the first several weeks after conception, it is important that all women avoid alcohol if they are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Dr. Matthew A. Clark is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics practicing at the Ute Mountain Health Center in Towaoc.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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Gayle Young says...
Very nice article to see the basic FASD information given in such a concise
and organized manner and the most important point - prevention - highlighted.
I would with a FASD/Neuro-developmental team and want to suggest that I believe the thought that FAS is the most severe form of FASD is no longer thought to be true. Although I do not have a source for this information.
Thank you for writing!