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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The consumption of alcohol while pregnant can cause many complications known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This is an umbrella term that refers to a multitude of disorders that can be caused when a pregnant women drinks alcohol. One of the most severe of these diseases is known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome affects 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of the United States. Other fetal alcohol disorders are believed to occur approximately three times more often as fetal alcohol syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006, ¶4). Although FAS is not as common as other alcohol related disorders, the disease can have devastating affects that are permanent and last throughout the child’s lifespan. Some affects of FAS include mental and learning disabilities, birth defects, complications with the central nervous system, and poor memory and concentration skills. Some studies have been conducted to better understand the reason why pregnant women continue to consume alcohol. While the answer is still somewhat unclear, many awareness and prevention tools have been created in the effort to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome and educate women who might become pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndrome can have devastating affects that affects every aspect of an individual’s life.
Children with fetal alcohol syndrome have many certain physical and mental characteristics. Among the physical characteristics of FAS are abnormal facial features and deformities, stunted growth, smaller size in relation to peers of the same age, thin upper lip, and a large gap between the eyes. Unfortunately, the affects of FAS do not stop at physical disfigurement; the disease also causes many mental affects such as delays in cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development, poor coordination, poor reasoning, poor judgment skills, difficulties with mathematical skills, and poor impulse control. Individuals with FAS...