Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a lifelong disability that comes under Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This condition occurs when a child is exposed to alcohol during the mother’s pregnancy and can continue into adulthood.
Some of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome symptoms in adults include intellectual disability, learning disorders, poor judgment skills, etc which vary from person to person but remain lifelong. Plus, there are no safe alcohol limits registered for drinking during pregnancy. If a mother drinks during pregnancy, she places her baby at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) arises from prenatal exposure to alcohol and is not hereditary. Alcohol is teratogenic to fetuses and harms cell development.
This means that alcohol can cause functional or structural disorders in developing embryos, which may lead to birth defects. Such conditions develop prenatally and can be identified during or after pregnancy, and even later in life.
Alcohol’s impact on a developing fetus or embryo depends on three factors:
- How often the birth mother consumed alcohol?
- How much alcohol the birth mother consumed?
- In which period of pregnancy the birth mother consumed alcohol?
A few other factors can also affect the development of the fetus, like the birth mother’s nutrition, stress, smoking habits, and age.
| If you have doubts about whether you/your child has FAS, we recommend that you reach out to a healthcare professional immediately. This is because early diagnosis & treatment may lower certain symptoms & decrease the severity of FAS. |
Signs And Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Adults
Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in adults can be behavioral, mental, and physical. It can also affect learning and behaviour throughout his or her life. Some symptoms may be the reason why certain people had trouble performing well in school.
Some studies show that FAS-affected adults have high rates of dependency on social support, a decline in IQ since childhood, eye disorders, and even suicide attempts. Let’s dive into detail on physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome one by one.
Physical Symptoms Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Physical symptoms of FAS in adults may include a small head size and short stature.
- Adults with FAS may have a thin upper lip, flat cheekbones, small eye openings and a smooth philtrum. The philtrum is the ridge between the nose and upper lip. Features commonly discussed under fetal alcohol syndrome eyes may include smaller eye openings and other subtle facial differences.
- Vision and hearing problems may also occur in adults with FAS.
- Some adults have structural abnormalities affecting the heart, bones, kidneys or other organs.
- However, physical signs may be subtle and difficult to identify without a professional assessment.
Cognitive Symptoms Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects mental health in adulthood. Anxiety, depression, and psychosis are some mental health conditions associated with Fetal Alcohol Symptoms in adults.
- Difficulty in understanding social cues and navigating through daily social life.
- Poor memory and issues with emotional regulation are found in adults with FAS.
- Impulsiveness, irritability, and mood swings are also found.
- Difficulty maintaining relationships in personal and professional life settings.
Behavioral Symptoms Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Low attention span and difficulty in planning and organizing tasks.
- FAS-affected adults tend to have a high chance of substance dependence and are often unemployed.
- Risky behaviour due to emotional instability and poor judgement.
- Difficulty managing stress is one of the behavioral symptoms of FAS.
How Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Is Diagnosed In Adults?
There is no specific test to diagnose Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in adults. If you’re wondering whether Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be diagnosed later in life, the answer is yes. It is possible. Some visible signs to diagnose Fetal Alcohol Syndrome include the following:
- Mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
- Sexually inappropriate behaviours.
- Dependency on narcotic substances.
- Often being found in legal trouble or socially troubling situations.
- Being unemployed, having difficulty keeping a job, and also trouble living without social dependence.
- Hyperactivity and trouble with reasoning and judgement skills.
Conditions Commonly Mistaken For Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
There are some conditions commonly mistaken for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The similarities in clinical presentations between FAS and the noted diagnoses can lead to a wrong diagnosis or a missed diagnosis of FAS in adults.
Reactive Attachment Disorder, Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and communication disorders have common symptoms with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and are sometimes misdiagnosed.
Treatment And Support For Adults With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
For adults with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, treatments are found to be effective when specific impairments are addressed and build upon their strengths. Some treatment approaches, like behavioral therapy and parent training, help to support people with FAS and also their families.
Stimulants for hyperactivity and poor impulse control, alongside antidepressants, are some examples of medications used for the treatment and support of adults with FAS. It is also possible that the same medication can have different effects in different individuals.
Also, many untested therapies, also known as alternative therapies, exist. There may be benefits and, at the same time, potential risks also. You must have a good conversation with the healthcare provider to weigh the risks and benefits of such therapies. Examples of such therapies include creative art therapy and yoga.
Resource For Adults Living With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
A resource program for adults living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome exists in the US known as FASD United. It is a non-profit public health charitable organization that empowers people living with FASD. It was founded in 1990 as NOFAS, also known as the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. FASD United also works with several United States government services.
There are many other resources for adults living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. If you know anyone who has mental and substance use disorders, you can find treatment for them on SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov website. Also, Alcoholics Anonymous (A. A) is an initiative for people to share their experience, strength, and hope with each other.
This helps them recover from alcoholism. If there is a history of developmental and behaviour problems with confirmed risk factors like the birth mother’s alcohol consumption, you must reach out to the nearest health care provider as soon as possible. If you just learned about FAS, it can bring up a lot of extreme feelings.
What matters most now is getting the right support, treatment, and guidance. A professional health care provider specializing in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can help you navigate through your difficulties with social support, maybe medication, and also improve your quality of life.
FAQs
Alcohol use in birth mothers during pregnancy is the leading cause of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Alcohol consumption before and during the mother’s pregnancy is the root cause of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
There are multiple symptoms for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in adults, like difficulty concentrating, short attention span, and inability to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Reach out to a professional health care provider to confirm whether you have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
There is no cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but early treatment can help minimize the symptoms.
References
- Cleveland Clinic
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): Symptoms & Treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15677-fetal-alcohol-syndrome - Mayo Clinic
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – Symptoms and Causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352901
