Fetal

Alcohol
Syndrome
Megan & Audrey

Description of Disease
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome occurs when a woman consumes alcohol during
her pregnancy.
It causes physical and mental damage to the child.
It affects the central nervous system causing many problems for the child.
Children born with FAS have a smaller than normal brain
Structures within the brain are smaller and unproportional as well

FAS also has effects on the physical features of the child

Effects on the Nervous System

Overall size of brain is smaller
Reduced size of Cerebellum
Affects gait, balance, coordination, etc.

Underdeveloped or complete absence of Corpus Callosum

Affects communication between the left and right sides of the brain

Damage to nerves
Affects motor skills and touch sensations

Effects on Physical
Appearance
Small head

Short nose

Low nasal bridge

Thin upper lip

Narrow eyes

Flat midface

Wide set eyes

Development Symptoms
Delayed/Slow development
Failure to thrive
Learning disabilities
Low birthweight
Short

Behavioral Symptoms
Aggression
Antisocial
Hyperactive
Impulsive
Irritable

Other Symptoms
Anxiety
Hearing loss
Speech impairment
Vision disorder
Heart disease
Malnutrition
Facial dysmorphism
Poor coordination

Diagnosis
There is no official medical test, ie blood test etc
Doctors look for:
Abnormal facial features
Small size (height, weight, etc)
Problems with Central Nervous System
Confirmed consumption of alcohol during pregnancy

First three are required, while a confession is not.

Treatment
FAS is irreversible, yet 100% preventable
If it is caught early, symptoms can be reduced

Therapy
Support Groups
Counseling Psychology
Sensory Processing

Specialists
Speech Therapists for voice rehabilitation
Psychiatrists for medications

Other Facts about FAS

FAS is rare; less than 200,000 cases per year in the US
1 in 30 women engage in high-risk drinking while pregnant
High-risk drinking: 5+ drinks in one setting or 7+ drinks within a week

90% of FAS children do not live with their biological parents

The most damage is caused by drinking in the first trimester, before most
women even know that they are pregnant
Alcohol causes more damage to an unborn child than any other drug,
including: cocaine, meth, marijuana etc
There is absolutely no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy

Sources
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/fetal-alcohol-syndrome
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fetalalcoholspectrumdisorders.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html
https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/centerforhumandevelopment/fulllives/pastconfere
nces/upload/Interesting-Facts.pdf