What+Is+Fetal+Alcohol+Syndrome?

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= = =**__What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?__** =

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, also known as FASD, is a name given to explain the many disorders that develop when a woman consumes alcohol during pregnancy. In Canada, alcohol is the leading cause of developmental incapacity. There are three medical diagnosis for FASD: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial FASD (pFAS), and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND). Before these sub headings were established, the term to describe FASD was Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE). This term name is still sometimes used to refer to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder cases. Where Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the cause of numerous types of mental, physical, and developmental disabilities in babies. Fetal Alcohol Effects(FAE) is a milder form of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS). Due to the fact that alcohol is able to cross the blood/brain barrier, when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the developing cells of the fetus are damaged, this can cause significant damage to the baby’s central nervous system. In addition, since a baby cannot metabolize alcohol as quickly as an adult, and even the smallest amount could harm the child, no amount of alcohol is safe for a mother to consume during pregnancy. (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011)



The baby's anatomy can be damaged due to the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE), Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND), are the many faces of a baby who has been subjected to alcohol while in the womb. Due to the fact that many people who suffer from FASD are never diagnosed as having it, many times they are misdiagnosed as adults with varying disorders. Included in these misdiagnosis are: ADHD, Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. Living with FASD would be difficult enough, imagine being diagnosed with the wrong disorder. Some key concepts to consider when dealing with FASD are:
 * Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is often an invisible disability.
 * Early diagnosis is key to services and early interventions.
 * FASD affected individuals need to be informed about their disability.
 * Dependence is a factor with most FASD affected individuals.
 * FASD affected adolescents and adults need parents/support people to stay involved.
 * FASD affected individuals learn best with structure, supervision, and simplicity. Distractions should be removed.
 * Visual learning techniques, the ability to work at their own pace with lots of individual attention helps.
 * Time lines for services need to be extended.
 * Some things may need to be repeated many times with frequent reminders.(Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Outreach Project)