1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)By
Amanda Sponseller

2. What it is? Condition that results from prenatal alcohol exposure
Defects are irreversible and vary from child to child
As many as 40,000 babies are born every year with some kind of alcohol-related damage in the US
Affects 1-2 out of every 1,000 births in the US

3. What it is?-Con’t.
Is not a single birth defect, it is a cluster of related problems
Most severe consequence that results from prenatal alcohol exposure
One of the few known preventable causes of mental retardation

4. Signs of FAS
Distinctive facial features such as small eyes, thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip, and “railroad track” ears
“Hockey stick” palm crease
Problems with daily living
Heart defects
Low birth weight
Sleep and sucking problems in infancy
Deformities of joints, limbs, and fingers
Slow physical growth before and after birth

5. Signs-Con’t. Vision difficulties or hearing problems
Small head circumference and brain size
Mental retardation and delayed development
Abnormal behavior (short attention span, hyperactivity, extreme nervousness, and anxiety)
Most extreme is death

6. Features of FAS
Characteristics of FAS

7. Features of FAS
Railroad track ear
“Hockey Stick” palm crease

8. Features of FAS
Thin upper lip and smooth skin surface between nose and upper lip

9. Other Terms of FAS
Fetal alcohol effects (FAE)-describes behavior and cognitive problems in children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol but do not have all the typical features of FAS
Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)-refers to the mental and behavior impairments that occur as a result of fetal exposure to alcohol (ex. memory, attention, poor school performance, poor judgment)

10. Other terms of FAS-Con’t.
Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD)-refers to the physical defects that occur from fetal alcohol exposure (ex. heart, kidney, bones, and/or hearing)

11. Causes
When drinking alcohol, it enters the bloodstream and reaches the developing fetus by crossing the placenta
The presence of alcohol can impair optical nutrition for the baby’s developing tissues and organs and can damage brain cells
First trimester alcohol intake-impairment of facial features, heart and other organs, bones, and the central nervous system
Age of mother, timing & regularity of alcohol ingestion, and if the mother has eaten any food while drinking

12. When to seek medical help?
If you drank before realizing that you are pregnant
Drinking while pregnant
Early diagnosis reduces risk of long-term problems for children with FAS

13. Screening & Diagnosis Cannot diagnose FAS before birth
Can assess the health of mother and baby during pregnancy
Doctors can assess child’s health in days, months, and years to come for FAS after birth
Doctors rely on growth impairment, facial malformations, and the presence of heart defects to diagnose FAS
Doctors also use IQ and language tests to diagnose
After diagnosing one child, it is important to evaluate other siblings for FAS

14. Treatment No cure for FAS
All defects (mental & physical) last for a lifetime
Heart problems may require surgery
Learning problems may be helped by special services offered at school
Parents benefit from counseling to help the family with the child’s behavior problems

15. Prevention Completely preventable if no alcohol is present
Stop drinking altogether if planning to become pregnant
Continue to avoid alcohol throughout pregnancy
Consider giving up alcohol during childbearing years (18-44)
Get help first if you have an alcohol problem

16. Helpful suggestions for parents of FAS children
Implement daily routines to which a child can become accustomed to
Create and enforce simple rules and limits
Use rewards to reinforce acceptable behavior
Teach your child skills for daily living

17. History
Maternal alcoholism and birth defects were initially treated as a new observation
Effects of alcohol on the developing fetus had been known for centuries
One of the earliest reference to this syndrome was found in ancient Greek & Roman beliefs
FAS was not documented in medical literature until 1968

18. Miscellaneous
February 2005-US Surgeon General issued an advisory on alcohol use in pregnancy to raise public awareness about this health concern
Overall rate of any alcohol use (at least 1 drink) among pregnant women has declined since 1995
Frequent & binge drinking continues to occur
About 130,000 pregnant women per year in the US consume alcohol at levels shown to increase the risk of having a baby with FAS or other prenatal alcohol-related conditions

19. International FAS Awareness Day
September 9th-the ninth day of the ninth month of the year
It symbolizes the nine months of pregnancy that a woman should avoid alcohol
Spread the word about the importance of having a healthy, alcohol-free pregnancy with family and friends!

20. Bibliography
Calhoun, F., & Warren, K. (2007). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Historical perspectives. ScienceDirect, 31,
Magnusson, A., Goransson, M., & Helig, M. (2007). Hazardous alcohol users during pregnancy: Psychiatric health and personality traits. ScienceDirect, 89,
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. (2006, May 2). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2007, from
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (2007, July). Kidshealth. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2007, from
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (2007, May 23). Mayoclinic. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2007, from