Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause a number of long-term, negative effects on a developing child. FAS, or fetal alcohol syndrome, is one such debilitating condition resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 12 percent of pregnant women consume alcohol. As a result, each year nearly two out of every 1,000 children born will receive a diagnosis of FAS. FAS is a debilitating neurological and physical condition that renders children vulnerable to several risk factors.
Physical Risk Factors
A large majority of children with FAS will have noticeable physical defects caused by the disorder. They are typically of a lower birth weight than most infants, and have specific facial characteristics such as thin lips, wide-set eyes and small heads. FAS sufferers have poor motor coordination and may struggle with maintaining balance while walking. Additionally, they could have serious physical health conditions including underdeveloped vital organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.
Cognitive Risk Factors
FAS is responsible for significant cognitive deficits as well as pronounced learning disabilities. According to the March of Dimes, fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. Children with FAS are usually academically behind their non-impaired peers, earning substandard achievement scores on reading and mathematics standardized tests. An inability to maintain focus and attention on complex tasks is another cognitive risk factor associated with the disease. Many with FAS have cognitive deficits so severe that their abilities to manage basic life functions are impaired. FAS renders some individuals unable to exercise good judgment because they fail to fully comprehend the relationship between cause and effect.
Social Risk Factors
A 2004 article published in "Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics" entitled "Risk Factors for Adverse Life Outcomes in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects" studied over 400 people with FAS. The research, led by Dr. Ann Streissguth, highlighted some distressing social risk factors associated with the disorder. The study revealed that approximately 80 percent of participants were reared by someone other than their birth mothers; over 60 percent had been suspended or expelled from school; 60 percent had legal difficulties; 50 percent had been institutionalized; almost 50 percent had engaged in inappropriate sexual activities; and 35 percent had substance abuse problems. On a positive note, the study revealed that children who receive early intervention and support services for FAS can reduce their social risk factors tremendously.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- March of Dimes: Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
- "Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics"; Risk Factors for Adverse Life Outcomes in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects;Streissguth, A., Brookstein, F., Barr, H., Sampson, P., O'Malley, K., and Young, J.; 2004
