ABOUT FASD
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of physical and mental birth
defects that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during
her pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, such as
beer, wine, or mixed drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol passes through
the placenta right into the developing baby. The baby may suffer
lifelong damage as a result.
FAS is characterized by brain damage, facial deformities, and growth
deficits. Heart, liver, and kidney defects also are common,
as well as vision and hearing problems. Individuals with FAS
have difficulties with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing
the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose
mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include
physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities
with possible lifelong implications. The term FASD is not intended
for use as a clinical diagnosis.
FASD covers other terms such as:
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - the only diagnosis given
by doctors.
- Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) - reserved
for individuals with functional or cognitive impairments
linked to prenatal alcohol exposure, including decreased
head size at birth, structural brain abnormalities, and a
pattern of behavioral and mental abnormalities
- Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) - describes the physical
defects linked to prenatal alcohol exposure, including heart,
skeletal, kidney, ear, and eye malformations
- Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) - a term that has been popularly
used to describe alcohol-exposed individuals whose condition
does not meet the full criteria for an FAS diagnosis
Useful Links to find out more
about FASD:
Fact
Sheet on FASD
Resources
to get more information on FASD
www.nofas.org
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