| Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | 857.000000000000 | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | F | English | Neurology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Body | NA | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2019-06-19T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 9.50000000000000 | 50.4000000000000 | 1100.00000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes the effects that result from prenatal alcohol exposure.</p> | <h2>What is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)?</h2>
<p>Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a general or "umbrella" term used to describe disabilities caused when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. FASD includes any of the following diagnoses: </p>
<ul>
<li>fetal alcohol syndrome with sentinel features<br></li>
<li>fetal alcohol syndrome without sentinel features<br></li>
</ul> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause many different problems for the baby, including physical problems and problems with learning, attention, memory and behaviour. </li>
<li>Problems caused by drinking during pregnancy are called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). </li>
<li>There is no cure for FASD, but it may be possible to get help for specific problems. It is important to diagnose FASD early. </li>
<li>If you are pregnant, do not drink alcohol. </li>
</ul> | | <h2>Signs and symptoms of FASD</h2>
<p>The effects of FASD are not always obvious at birth. Often, behavioural and learning problems are not noticed until the child is old enough to go to school.<br></p>
<p>Some people with FASD have a mixture of specific facial features and developmental problems. Many children with FASD do not have specific facial features.</p>
<h3>Problems with development and learning</h3>
<p>Children with FASD may have one or more of the following problems:<br></p><ul>
<li>slow learning, short attention span, hyperactivity or memory problems </li>
<li>learning disabilities, especially with reading, comprehension and abstract math </li>
<li>delays or lack of abilities in speech and language, for example, receptive language disorder, interrupting, talking out of context or chatting with no content </li>
<li>lack of executive function skills, including difficulties with organization, planning and reasoning </li>
<li>inability to manage money, for example by saving and budgeting </li>
<li>inability to understand cause and effect </li>
</ul>
<h3>Sensory integration problems</h3>
<p>Children with FASD may have problems with sensory integration. These problems may involve one or more senses, such as: </p>
<ul>
<li>sensitivity to touch; the child may not be able to tolerate tags in shirts or seams in clothing </li>
<li>seeming to need more touch than other children; for example, the child may need tight hugs or may not seem to feel pain </li>
<li>hating bright lights or noise </li>
<li>noticing smells more than others </li>
<li>being bothered by "every little thing" </li>
</ul>
<p>These problems may occur in combination. A child with FASD could be hypersensitive to bright lights, but crave deep pressure or touch. </p>
<h3>Behaviour and mood problems</h3>
<p>Babies with FASD may have one or more of the following problems:</p>
<ul>
<li>irritable, nervous, or sensitive to sound and light </li>
<li>cry often </li>
<li>very quiet and not very responsive </li>
</ul>
<p>Children with FASD may have one or more of the following problems:</p>
<ul>
<li>behavioural problems, such as oppositional defiant disorder and aggressive or defiant behaviours </li>
<li>mental illness, such as depression or psychosis </li>
<li>drug and alcohol problems </li>
<li>anger control problems or violence </li>
</ul>
<p>Poor judgment and the inability to connect an action with its consequences are the hallmarks of FASD. As a result, people with FASD are at high risk for getting in trouble with the law. </p>
<h3>Physical problems</h3>
<p>At birth, babies may have one or more of the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg or 5 lb 8 oz) </li>
<li>small head size </li>
<li>face and mouth deformities </li>
<li>flat shape of the face </li>
<li>specific facial features may include thin upper lip, flatness under nose and smaller eyes</li>
</ul>
<p>Other physical problems may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>delayed growth </li>
<li>small height and/or weight </li>
<li>short height as an adult </li>
<li>bone, joint, or muscle problems </li>
<li>hearing problems </li>
<li>repeated ear infections </li>
<li>visual and eye problems </li>
<li>genital defects </li>
<li>heart defects </li>
<li>kidney problems </li></ul> | <h2>FASD is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy</h2>
<p>FASD can happen when a pregnant woman drinks any type of alcohol, including beer, wine, hard liquor or coolers. Alcohol crosses the placenta from mother to baby. Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause FASD. </p>
<ul>
<li>High risk is when a woman has two drinks a day, or 14 drinks on average per week, or four or more drinks on any one occasion. </li>
<li>Recent evidence suggests that even one drink per day may cause behavioural problems. </li>
</ul>
<p>The kinds of problems the baby may have depends on when the mother drinks during the pregnancy:</p>
<ul>
<li>Since the brain is developing during the entire pregnancy, the brain is always being affected if the mother drinks alcohol regularly. </li>
<li>Drinking alcohol during the first trimester increases the chance that the baby will have a small brain, physical problems and/or severe intellectual disability. </li>
<li>Drinking alcohol during the second trimester increases the chances of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). </li>
<li>Drinking during the third trimester, and during nursing, can affect intelligence. </li>
</ul>
<p>Not all babies who are exposed to alcohol during pregnancy will have FASD. We do not yet understand why some babies are affected and others are not.<br></p>
<h2>FASD is common</h2>
<p>FASD affects approximately 1% of people living in Canada. This means that there may be about 300,000 people with FASD living in Canada today. </p> | | <h2>How FASD is diagnosed</h2>
<p>Making a diagnosis of FASD requires involvement of a multi-disciplinary team. The assessment may include: </p>
<ul>
<li>asking about the mother's pregnancy and the child's birth </li>
<li>doing a physical exam including assessing facial features<br></li>
<li>a developmental assessment: testing the child's abilities to understand, communicate, move and adapt<br></li>
</ul> | <h2>There is no cure for FASD</h2>
<p>There is not a specific treatment for FASD. However, it is important to diagnose FASD early to improve outcomes.</p>
<ul>
<li>Physical and occupational therapy can often help. </li>
<li>A child with FASD should have psycho-educational testing to find specific strengths and difficulties. This will help the child get services in school. </li>
<li>Social workers can help the family cope and deal with family issues. </li>
</ul> | | | <h2>Preventing FASD</h2>
<p>The only way to prevent FASD is by not drinking alcohol when pregnant.</p>
<p>For more information, please see the <a href="/Article?contentid=316&language=English">AboutKidsHealth Pregnancy resource centre</a>. </p>
<p>If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, do not drink alcohol. If you have a problem with drinking, talk to your doctor or another health professional. They may be able to help you stop drinking, or to cut back on your drinking as much as possible. </p> | | <h2>FASD lasts throughout a child's life</h2>
<p>The effects of FASD last throughout life. The problems change as the child grows up. Behaviour and mood problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression, psychosis and aggressive behaviour may develop in the teenage years. </p>
<p>People with FASD may have difficulty managing their own lives or being totally independent as adults. They may need some kind of support their whole lives to be successful. </p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>References</h2><p>Cook, J.L., Green, C.R., Lilley, C.M., Anderson, S.M., Baldwin, M.E., Chudley, A.E., . . . Rosales, T. (2016). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A guideline for diagnosis across the lifespan.
<em>Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), 188</em>(3) 191–197. doi:
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.141593">10.1503/cmaj.141593</a></p> | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder.jpg | | | | | | | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | | False | | | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can happen if you drink alcohol during pregnancy. Learn more about the problems FASD can cause to babies. | | | | |
