Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Support Group

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a spectrum of permanent and often devastating birth-defect syndromes caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. The main effect of fetal alcohol exposure is brain damage, which can be caused during any trimester, because the fetus's brain continues to develop throughout the entire pregnancy. The brain damage is often accompanied by, and reflected in, distinctive facial stigmata, as seen in the photograph on the right.

There are a number of subtypes, including full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and the less noticeable, but sometimes equally serious, possible fetal alcohol effects (PFAE). The latter is also known as prenatal exposure to alcohol (PEA) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND).

Features of FASD may include facial deformities, stunted physical and emotional development, memory and attention deficits, a tendency to impulsive behavior, inability to reason from cause to effect, a failure to comprehend the concept of time, difficulty telling fantasy from reality, inability to control sexual impulses, and an apparent lack of remorse. Secondary disabilities such as mental illness and drug addiction are also likely to develop. Unlike the primary disabilities, these do not reflect the central nervous system damage, but instead develop because the child has difficulty adapting to his environment.

Fetal alcohol exposure is regarded by researchers as the leading known cause of mental retardation in the Western world, surpassing both spina bifida and Down syndrome. In the United States alone, it is estimated that, every year, one in 750 babies born suffers from FAS, and 40,000 from PFAE.

Craniofacial abnormalities are visible in children with FAS, though not in children with FAE. Generally, children with FAS have a smaller head circumference and low birth weight, and they may fail to thrive. Their facial features are distinctive and diagnostically significant, in that they are a sign of brain damage, although there may be brain damage without the visible facial effects.

Common findings are mild to moderate microcephaly; small palpebral fissure lengths (palpebral fissures are the opening of the eyelids, measured from between the exocanthion and endocanthion of each eye); a thin upper lip; smooth philtrum (the vertical "divot" or groove between the nose and upper lip); flattened cheekbones; and a short nose.