Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can produce a host of disabilities. The term you may be familiar with is “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,” which was developed to describe the full range of issues related to prenatal alcohol exposure.
While alcohol can impact the child physically-major organs, physical development, etc., the biggest impact is often on the brain, and consequently memory, intellectual abilities and emotional and behavioral functioning can be affected. Early intervention is crucial to helping affected children develop to their fullest potential. The disabilities however are lifelong.
Children who were impacted by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure may experience the following issues:
- Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip
- Heart defects
- Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers
- Slow physical growth before and after birth
- Vision difficulties or hearing problems
- Small head circumference and brain size (microcephaly)
- Poor coordination
- Sleep problems
- Intellectual disabilities and delayed development
- Learning disorders
- Abnormal behavior, such as a short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, extreme nervousness and anxiety
The facial features seen with fetal alcohol syndrome may also occur in normal, healthy children. Distinguishing normal facial features from those of fetal alcohol syndrome requires expertise.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is not a medical diagnosis. Children with an FASD may be diagnosed by a physical with fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs). These terms are more specific.