Fetal Alcohol Syndrome example essay topic

In recent years the public has been made aware of a syndrome called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The syndrome has received publicity for many reasons including the fact that it is a completely preventable syndrome based on the pregnant mother's behaviors. The syndrome causes disabilities for the children. The mother that drink during their pregnancy have been getting charged.

It is a life long syndrome that cannot be reversed once it is achieved. In a report, Substance Abuse and the American Woman, sent out by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, at least one of every five pregnant women uses alcohol and / or other drugs during pregnancy (NOFAS). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is A Preventable Birth Defect If women didn't drink anymore during pregnancy, there would never be another baby born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effect. It is a very simple cure for an alarmingly high birth defect that all women have the power to stop. Every year more than 40,000 American children are born with defects because their mother drank alcohol while pregnant (Shea). That is 1 to 3 per 1,000 live births.

Many of these cases go undiagnosed. The higher the mothers blood alcohol is the greater the damage is to the developing fetus. It is also the number one cause of mental retardation in the United States, and one of the three leading causes of birth defects (Shea). Alcohol produces more significant effects in the fetus than other drug including cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

What I don't understand is that why would a mother drink during pregnancy, knowing that there is a chance that her baby might have problems. The best way to prevent FAS is by not using alcohol products. This sounds so simple, but for many women it is not. Usually infants born to mothers who are alcoholics have little to no prenatal care.

With no prenatal care a mother who consumes alcohol is not warned or told of the dangers of drinking. Many of these children end up in foster care being thrown back and forth between families, due to the behavioral and physical problems FAS and Fetal alcohol effects does not discriminate against race, creed or color. Studies have shown, In the United states one in five hundred children is diagnosed with FAS and one in three hundred children is diagnosed with Fetal alcohol effects (ACBR). The Native American people have even more staggering numbers.

There is one child with fetal alcohol syndrome out of every ninety nine children born. FAS is 30 times more commonly reported in Native Americans than it is in whites, and six times more common in blacks. It is estimated that nearly 40% of all Native American women meet the criteria for alcohol dependence (ACBR). If something is not done immediately there might be an explosion of FAS or FAE children in the Native American community.

The reported rates of FAS are higher among Native Americans and African Americans. These differences may be due to actual differences in the occurrence, or may in part reflect under-diagnosis among some racial / ethnic groups, and over-diagnosis among others. I think that we must help all women to realize the dangers associated with fetal exposure to alcohol. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is implementing many prevention methods in combating FAS and FAE some of them include Collaborative partnerships with states, universities, and other organizations to develop state and locally based systems for surveillance of FAS and other alcohol-related birth defects.

For example, the CDC has worked with state and local health departments in Washington to develop a population-based model for FAS surveillance among first grade students in two counties in the state. They identified previously unknown cases of FAS and referred the children for therapeutic and special education services. Their mothers were referred to local health care providers. Another prevention method the CDC has implemented is Disseminate information, in collaboration with other agencies, from the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of FAS data. State and local programs can use this information to modify their activities so that they are using the most cost-effective strategies to combat FAS and other alcohol-related birth defects. The CDC can only implement these programs, but it is up to the states to utilize these programs to help inform woman of the dangers of alcohol.

There are several agencies, organizations, states and universities affiliated in implementing the CDC's programs. Noticeable behavioral problems were found to be with comprehension, judgment, and attention skills, causing these adults born with FAS to experience major psychological and adjustment problems for the rest of their lives. Numerous studies with animals, of experimental alcoholism, where nutritional status has been well controlled, have shown that the damage to the developing fetus, such as low birth rate CNS impairment, and others are caused by the direct consequence of the effects of alcohol. Even though the direct connection between alcohol intake and birth defects is now indisputable, there are other factors associated with maternal drinking that must also be considered as contributing factors in an adverse pregnancy outcome. The most important of these secondary factors is alcohol related malnutrition, as nutritional deficiencies occur frequently with alcohol intake due to reduced appetite People with fetal alcohol syndrome have a range of problems as severe as being mentally retarded too less visible problems like difficulty paying attention.

Some other problems associated with the syndrome may be learning problems, with low IQ's, developmental delays both physical and mental, difference in facial features, being hyperactive, small for their age or a variety of health problems. We have known the effects of alcohol on the fetus since 1968. A French scientist by the name of Lemoine recognized the multiple effects that alcohol can have on a developing fetus. Lemoine came up with five categories to characterize the syndrome. The first category is growth which includes pre and postnatal onset growth deficiencies. The second category is performance, which included such things as low IQ's.

The average IQ for someone that has fetal alcohol syndrome is sixty three. Other factors that are in the performance category are weak grasp, poor hand eye coordination, and hyperactivity in childhood. The third category is called cranial facial abnormalities. Some of these abnormal circumstances are small heads, eye slits, and short noses. The fourth category is skeletal abnormalities, which includes joint abnormalities, abnormal position and function. The fifth and final category is cardiac abnormalities, that included such things as heart murmurs.

In some cases of FAS renal problems have been also diagnosed. "A spectrum of anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract has been observed among children with moderate or extensive signs of FAS" (Rossetti and Weiner 69). The brain is one of the most effected organs in the babies body's. The brain is most sensitive to the damage of alcohol during a period called synaptogenesis, when the brain is rapidly developing, which begins during the third trimester of pregnancy and continues throughout early childhood. Researchers have found that alcohol affects two brain chemicals, glutamate and GABA, which aid in communication between different parts of the brain. Alarmingly researchers found that just one episode of drunkenness during the third trimester is enough to damage the fetus's brain (NOFAS).

While there is no cure for FAS or FAE there have been some treatments developed. Treatment programs need to include special education and vocational training components that emphasize skills leading to the patient functioning in society in the least restrictive, but safest possible environment. Prevention of FAS is the most effective treatment. The cost is astonishing for the long term care of children who have FAS or FAE. In Alaska Senator John Binky estimated the cost at over 1.4 million dollars over the life span of the individual. Multiple this estimated cost by about 40,000 children a year born with FAS or FAE and the cost is huge.

The only possible option for prevention of FAS and FAE is to abstain from alcohol. If only woman didn't drink anymore during pregnancy, there would never be another baby born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Effect. Many studies have been performed on FAS. The University of Washington School of Medicine is the leader in scientific research of FAS. The school / students have done many controlled research study's.

The Study on Alcohol and Pregnancy, Neuropsychological Analyses of FAS / FAE Deficits, Parent-Child Assistance Program, and the FAS Follow-up Program. One of the many problems of misdiagnosis, and is shown in this study is that, the birth rate of FAS children is nearly 1 per 100 births (ACBR). The problem is this, alcohol-affected children and adults are often denied services when they lack the characteristic FAS face and or mental retardation as defined by a standardized IQ score of less then 69. It is essential that these diagnosis' become more accurate so that the consequences can be understood and that the markers of clinically affected individuals be identified to support appropriate diagnosis and intervention. Working with children affected by Fetal Alcohol syndrome can be difficult and tiring but with the right knowledge of the disease and how it effects the child, interaction can be much easier. There are five key to working with these children structure, consistency, variety, brevity and persistence.

Caregivers should provide external structure for these children because they lack internal structure. It is also important to be consistent because the child needs to know the world is predictable. Brevity in explanations and directions is important because they have serious problems with attentiveness. Use a variety of different ways to keep the child's attention. Lastly one must repeat over and over again what is being taught. A few effective strategies a parent or caregiver can use are foster independence in self-help and play, encourage decision making, teach daily living skills, encourage use of positive self talk, establish a few simple rules for the child to abide by, establish routines, give advance warning about upcoming activities and break things down into small parts so it is not so overwhelming (Rosetta and Wiener 70).

In conclusion, FAS is a growing concern as research shows that, in recent years, regular alcohol consumption has increased alarmingly among the female population; particularly among younger women and teenage girls. This is also happening in our community and there needs to be an end put to it. Due to this rise in alcohol consumption the public has to put forth evidence and proof about the dangers of alcohol consumption among women during their child-bearing years. I know that they write it on cigarette packages so why not alcohol? The biggest point that can be made about alcohol induced fetal damage is that it is 100% totally preventable, we can only hope that education of this subject, on the part of both prospective parents, will control the increasing problem. I cannot believe that this information has been readily available for such a long time and no one seems to worry about it.

If we could effectively help that the simple fact that "mothering from conception is direct mothering", and therefore everything that the mother consumes during pregnancy the fetus consumes as well, some of these tragedies could be more easily be avoided.