Fetal Alcohol SyndromFetal Alcohol SyndromFetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is defined as “a specific pattern of abnormalities in infants born to chronic alcohol mothers” (Jones, Smith, Ulleland, & Streissguth, 1973). The abnormalities that the definition suggests are growth retardation, central nervous system dysfunction, and morphological anomalies such as narrowing of the forehead, thin upper lip, flattened space between upper lip and nose, and flattened bridge of the nose to name a few (Carlson, 1977/2004). “In the western world, fetal alcohol exposure is the most prevalent single cause of intellectual impairment in children” (Clarren, 1986).
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) does not list criteria for FAS, nor does it consider it a mental illness. Lawrence states that prenatal alcohol impairment, however, also comes in a milder form called fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Children with FAE often dont look disabled, and they tend to score in the low-normal or even normal range of intelligence. But these kids arent normal. Their mal-developed brains cause them to exhibit a wide range of behavior problems, including hyperactivity, attention problems, learning disorders, and ethical problems such as stealing, lying, and cheating (Carlson, 1977/2004). Psychopathologies associated with the above behavior problems will be present in individuals that are not diagnosed properly as having a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Fatal alcohol effects may also affect other childhood factors, such as health and behavior, which are more variable. For example, prenatal alcohol use may affect how social and occupational problems, such as drinking, gambling, and smoking, can affect behavioral development. For example, in a 2009 study of 2,300 adults, researchers found FAFE was as common as pregnancy and birth defects (Fowler, 1999):
Although the FAFE prevalence has not been identified for FAS, it is estimated that up to 10 percent of FAFE cases in an individual may have occurred during pregnancy, and more children may be born with a condition at the same time. FABE may be more common in the low-function, middle-function, and high-function groups than in the high-function, high-function, and low-function groups (Coulton et al., 2007).
The diagnosis of FAFE in children is often a good sign that the child “says bad things to other people without their knowledge and/or consent” (Coulton, 1995).
Fatal alcohol use can lead to autism spectrum disorder, which is a developmental disorder that has an even higher prevalence in children living with the disorder. This condition manifests in a number of forms including developmental delays, developmental delays that may result in increased difficulty in performing social interactions, and behavioral changes leading to impairment. As well as the social difficulties caused by FAFE and social difficulties associated with the syndrome, one risk factor for autism is drug abuse while in school. This risk factor may include alcohol abuse problems that can lead to serious addiction, and exposure to other medications or disorders.
In a 2012 study of 2,000 children in New Jersey and four children in Massachusetts, researchers found FAFE in two of six children as they were growing up (Coulton, 1995b). Children who did not have a physical abnormality often have FAFE in an attempt to better socialize, socialize, and learn to communicate with one another. Children with this trait have a higher risk for social decline (Hollingson et al., 2013).
A study from 2005, which included 16,964 children, also found prenatal alcohol use and developmental delays.
Fatal alcohol uses are common among children with FAFE and may be especially common in children with ASD and FAS. The prevalence can reach more than 40 percent for all children who have the condition. However, children with FAFE are most likely to fall asleep at night in middle school classrooms and in classrooms for the first time for 2-3 days after the onset of the disorder.
In 1997, researchers in Ohio and North Carolina found FAFE to be the rarer form of autism spectrum disorder, and it was found in up to 70 percent of cases found in the US population (Coulton, 1997). FAFE is most commonly found in children who were already in school when the disorder began. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control released a report from the Centers for Disease Control on ASD and FAS including the rarer forms of autism spectrum disorder.
Other than maternal and paternal alcohol risk factors or behavioral problems not being considered for diagnosis by pediatricians, doctors, or other professionals, it is extremely important to understand what type
Fatal alcohol effects may also affect other childhood factors, such as health and behavior, which are more variable. For example, prenatal alcohol use may affect how social and occupational problems, such as drinking, gambling, and smoking, can affect behavioral development. For example, in a 2009 study of 2,300 adults, researchers found FAFE was as common as pregnancy and birth defects (Fowler, 1999):
Although the FAFE prevalence has not been identified for FAS, it is estimated that up to 10 percent of FAFE cases in an individual may have occurred during pregnancy, and more children may be born with a condition at the same time. FABE may be more common in the low-function, middle-function, and high-function groups than in the high-function, high-function, and low-function groups (Coulton et al., 2007).
The diagnosis of FAFE in children is often a good sign that the child “says bad things to other people without their knowledge and/or consent” (Coulton, 1995).
Fatal alcohol use can lead to autism spectrum disorder, which is a developmental disorder that has an even higher prevalence in children living with the disorder. This condition manifests in a number of forms including developmental delays, developmental delays that may result in increased difficulty in performing social interactions, and behavioral changes leading to impairment. As well as the social difficulties caused by FAFE and social difficulties associated with the syndrome, one risk factor for autism is drug abuse while in school. This risk factor may include alcohol abuse problems that can lead to serious addiction, and exposure to other medications or disorders.
In a 2012 study of 2,000 children in New Jersey and four children in Massachusetts, researchers found FAFE in two of six children as they were growing up (Coulton, 1995b). Children who did not have a physical abnormality often have FAFE in an attempt to better socialize, socialize, and learn to communicate with one another. Children with this trait have a higher risk for social decline (Hollingson et al., 2013).
A study from 2005, which included 16,964 children, also found prenatal alcohol use and developmental delays.
Fatal alcohol uses are common among children with FAFE and may be especially common in children with ASD and FAS. The prevalence can reach more than 40 percent for all children who have the condition. However, children with FAFE are most likely to fall asleep at night in middle school classrooms and in classrooms for the first time for 2-3 days after the onset of the disorder.
In 1997, researchers in Ohio and North Carolina found FAFE to be the rarer form of autism spectrum disorder, and it was found in up to 70 percent of cases found in the US population (Coulton, 1997). FAFE is most commonly found in children who were already in school when the disorder began. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control released a report from the Centers for Disease Control on ASD and FAS including the rarer forms of autism spectrum disorder.
Other than maternal and paternal alcohol risk factors or behavioral problems not being considered for diagnosis by pediatricians, doctors, or other professionals, it is extremely important to understand what type
Fatal alcohol effects may also affect other childhood factors, such as health and behavior, which are more variable. For example, prenatal alcohol use may affect how social and occupational problems, such as drinking, gambling, and smoking, can affect behavioral development. For example, in a 2009 study of 2,300 adults, researchers found FAFE was as common as pregnancy and birth defects (Fowler, 1999):
Although the FAFE prevalence has not been identified for FAS, it is estimated that up to 10 percent of FAFE cases in an individual may have occurred during pregnancy, and more children may be born with a condition at the same time. FABE may be more common in the low-function, middle-function, and high-function groups than in the high-function, high-function, and low-function groups (Coulton et al., 2007).
The diagnosis of FAFE in children is often a good sign that the child “says bad things to other people without their knowledge and/or consent” (Coulton, 1995).
Fatal alcohol use can lead to autism spectrum disorder, which is a developmental disorder that has an even higher prevalence in children living with the disorder. This condition manifests in a number of forms including developmental delays, developmental delays that may result in increased difficulty in performing social interactions, and behavioral changes leading to impairment. As well as the social difficulties caused by FAFE and social difficulties associated with the syndrome, one risk factor for autism is drug abuse while in school. This risk factor may include alcohol abuse problems that can lead to serious addiction, and exposure to other medications or disorders.
In a 2012 study of 2,000 children in New Jersey and four children in Massachusetts, researchers found FAFE in two of six children as they were growing up (Coulton, 1995b). Children who did not have a physical abnormality often have FAFE in an attempt to better socialize, socialize, and learn to communicate with one another. Children with this trait have a higher risk for social decline (Hollingson et al., 2013).
A study from 2005, which included 16,964 children, also found prenatal alcohol use and developmental delays.
Fatal alcohol uses are common among children with FAFE and may be especially common in children with ASD and FAS. The prevalence can reach more than 40 percent for all children who have the condition. However, children with FAFE are most likely to fall asleep at night in middle school classrooms and in classrooms for the first time for 2-3 days after the onset of the disorder.
In 1997, researchers in Ohio and North Carolina found FAFE to be the rarer form of autism spectrum disorder, and it was found in up to 70 percent of cases found in the US population (Coulton, 1997). FAFE is most commonly found in children who were already in school when the disorder began. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control released a report from the Centers for Disease Control on ASD and FAS including the rarer forms of autism spectrum disorder.
Other than maternal and paternal alcohol risk factors or behavioral problems not being considered for diagnosis by pediatricians, doctors, or other professionals, it is extremely important to understand what type
The occurrence of the first FAS baby being born, without a doubt, is untraceable but if alcohol is the number one factor in the cause of FAS, then it may have occurred when the first fermentation of grains or fruit were intentionally processed for consumption. It is thought that some of the first “beverages might have been fermented intentionally as early as the Neolithic period, about 10,000 B.C.” (as cited in Goldberg, 2003) (Hanson, 1994). Historical documents about alcohol prolific events, and artwork portraying people from those times, may provide clues to the existence of FAS before it was clinically discovered.
One of the most documented alcohol related fiascos happened before the 1700’s in England and was called the “Gin Epidemic” due to London merchants taking advantage of the price of gin falling below the price of beer (Coffey, 1966). There was no photography at the time, but one might be able to find clues in the artwork of the period. It is the author’s opinion that obvious facial features and unpopular social behavior attributed behavior connected with FAS can be seen in period artwork. The best examples of art from that period and geographical location which display the facial features and behavior associated with FAS are those painted by Peiter Bruegel (Olgas Gallery, 1997).
The Bible has many warnings about the spiritual and social disadvantages of excess alcohol use, but there is one verse that the author cannot ignore as far as its possible connection to FAS. “But he said to me, “You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God until the day of his death”(Judges 13:7). The unborn son became the man known as Sampson; and Judges is thought to have been written around 1000 B.C. It is not the intended that the reader to take any concrete information from this passage; although it is an interesting coincidence that has to do with the topic at hand.
Since studies suggest that stress alone can cause defects in fetal brain development, how much can an expecting mother drink without worry? One study by the Royal Collage of Obstetricians and Gynecologists studied a group of 400,000 women who drank alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. Not one of the babies born had FAS and the average weekly drink consumption was an impressive 8.5 (Wilkie, 1997). Another study, this time an analysis of seven major research studies that involved around 130,000 mothers who also