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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: are a group of disorders that occur when a mother drank alcoholic beverages during her pregnancy, and the baby is exposed to alcohol prenatally. A person with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder will have physical and neurodevelopmental problems.

Causes: when a women drinks alcohol during pregnancy.

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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders descriptions:

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ( FAS): the most severe effects that a baby will experience when exposed to alcohol prenatally.

  • Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ( PFAS): the baby has an alcohol-related neurodevelopmental deficits, but does not have FAS disorders.

  • Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder ( ARND): an individual may experience behavioral problems, and may have an intellectual disability.

  • Alcohol-Related Birth Defects ( ARBD): the individual may have physical problems with their hearing, their heart, their kidneys, and/or a combination of all of these.

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 Common Populations Affected by the FASDs:

  • The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders affects any baby/person who has been exposed to alcohol prenatally

  • FASDs is depicted as one of the highest causes of developmental delays as well as mental retardation and birth defects.

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Signs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: 

  • Primary ( after child is born exposed to alcohol)

  • Facial abnormalities

  • Small head

  • Low birth weight and height

  • Hyperactivity

  • Attention/concentration problems

  • Poor balance

  • Language problems

  • Poor social skills

  • Sensory disturbances

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Signs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Secondary ( seen later in life):

  • Mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, ADHD

  • School problems

  • Substance abuse

  • Legal problems

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Protective Factors: Helps diminish FASDs effects:

  • Diagnosed before 6 years of age

  • No exposure to violence

  • Involvement with special education

  • A stable and loving home

  • Basic needs of the child are met

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Treatment:

  •  Behavioral therapy

  •  Parental training and support groups on the FASDs to empower parents

  •  Early Intervention Services for child under 3 years old

  •  Special Education Services for child over 3 years old

  •  Close monitoring by child's’ pediatrician

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Prevention:

  •  When a women drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby drinks too.

  •  FASDs are all preventable when a women does not drink during pregnancy, even when she might get pregnant and she does not know yet that she is pregnant.

 

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Resources in Berks County:

  •  Service, Access & Management: for mental health services, crisis and emergency care. Call: 610-236-0530.

  •  Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance (An affiliate of Mental Health America) : for support groups, education/information. Call: 610-775-3000.

  •  TASC: Treatment, Access & Services: for drug abuse and addiction information and treatment. Call: 610-375-4426.

  •  AA ( Alcoholics Anonymous) Reading-Berks Intergroup. Call 610-373-6500. Web site: "http://www.readingberksintergroup.org"

  • COCA( Council on Chemical Abuse): Prevention and treatment resources for FASDs. Call 610-376-8669.

  • BCIU ( Berks County Intermediate Unit): Free developmental screenings and special education services. Call: 610-987-2248.

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Resources in Lehigh Valley:

  • Services, Access & Management for mental health services, crisis, emergency care. Call 610-419-9102.

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness( NAMI). Education, information for friends and family with mental illness. Call 610-882-2102.

  • TASC: Treatment, Access & Services: for drug abuse and addiction information and treatment. Call 610-432-6760.

  • AA( Alcoholics Anonymous): ABE Intergroup. Call 610-882-0550. Web site: "http://www.aalv.org"

  • COCA( Counsel on Chemical Abuse): Early intervention services; outpatient treatment for those affected by substance abuse. Call 610-437-0801.

  • Lehigh County Early Intervention: Early Intervention from birth to 5 years for children with special needs/developmental delays/disabilities. Call 610-782-3125.

 

 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Web Sites:

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Hotlines:

  • 911

  • 1-800-SUICIDE

  • Reading Health System 24-hour Addictions Hotline: Call 484-628-8186.

 

 

References:

  • Centers for Disease Control. ( 2015). Facts about FASDs.Retrieved March 26, 2017, from cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html.

  • D. Michaud; V.Temple ( 2013). The complexities of caring for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: The perspective of mothers. Journal on Developmental Disabilities,19(3),94-101.

  • J.Pei; K.Denys; J.Hughes; & c. Rasmussen. ( 2011). Mental health issues in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Journal of Mental Health, 20 (5), 438-448.

  • Wikipedia. ( 2017, March 16). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.Retrieved March 25, 2017 from https://en-wikipedia.org/wiki/fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder.

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