Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Intro
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is a term that is used to describe a range of problems that can occur to a fetus if the mother consumes any amount of alcohol during her pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and has the most visibly identifiable characteristics. Alcohol drastically interferes with the growth and development of several body systems such and the brain and spinal cord, facial features and even causes many mental, behavioural and learning disabilities that last a lifetime.
Epidemiology
Based on new evidence done by () it is believed that FAS prevalence of the general population of the United States is estimated to be between 0.5 and 2 per 1000 births. Incidence rates …show more content…
The most common physiological characteristics are low birth weight, small head circumference, small eye openings, a smooth and wide philtrum and a thin upper lip. Babies that show only some of these characteristics may be diagnosed with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In some cases where these facial characteristics may not be as prominent or apparent right after birth or as they grow and there is a chance that they will not have any facial deformities at all if the mother did not drink alcohol around the 20th day of pregnancy when the formation of the midface …show more content…
Depression is considered the most common mental illness diagnosis, occurring in 94% of adults (TCHP, 2000). It is also considered a secondary disability due to the fact that depression may result from dealing with other problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. Children who have grown up with fetal alcohol syndrome have difficulty learning from consequences, have immature social behavior, poor problem solving skills, difficulty managing money and have poor judgment and impulse control. As these children get older, dealing with these issues takes a toll on them and as mentioned previously adults with fetal alcohol syndrome have difficulty maintaining healthy and successful relationships, trouble staying in school or keeping jobs and often rely on long-term support and supervision. Without proper support, adults are at a much higher risk for developing secondary disabilities such as depression (Kellerman, 2005). As having to deal with these issues can manifest itself into a mental disorder more often into
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is a term that is used to describe a range of problems that can occur to a fetus if the mother consumes any amount of alcohol during her pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and has the most visibly identifiable characteristics. Alcohol drastically interferes with the growth and development of several body systems such and the brain and spinal cord, facial features and even causes many mental, behavioural and learning disabilities that last a lifetime.
Epidemiology
Based on new evidence done by () it is believed that FAS prevalence of the general population of the United States is estimated to be between 0.5 and 2 per 1000 births. Incidence rates …show more content…
The most common physiological characteristics are low birth weight, small head circumference, small eye openings, a smooth and wide philtrum and a thin upper lip. Babies that show only some of these characteristics may be diagnosed with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In some cases where these facial characteristics may not be as prominent or apparent right after birth or as they grow and there is a chance that they will not have any facial deformities at all if the mother did not drink alcohol around the 20th day of pregnancy when the formation of the midface …show more content…
Depression is considered the most common mental illness diagnosis, occurring in 94% of adults (TCHP, 2000). It is also considered a secondary disability due to the fact that depression may result from dealing with other problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. Children who have grown up with fetal alcohol syndrome have difficulty learning from consequences, have immature social behavior, poor problem solving skills, difficulty managing money and have poor judgment and impulse control. As these children get older, dealing with these issues takes a toll on them and as mentioned previously adults with fetal alcohol syndrome have difficulty maintaining healthy and successful relationships, trouble staying in school or keeping jobs and often rely on long-term support and supervision. Without proper support, adults are at a much higher risk for developing secondary disabilities such as depression (Kellerman, 2005). As having to deal with these issues can manifest itself into a mental disorder more often into