Fetal alcohol disorders are more common than you think

Summary

This PBS NewsHour report by Amna Nawaz explores fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can lead to developmental and cognitive challenges. Doctors in Minnesota are studying its effects and diagnosing children like Moses, a 5-year-old who shows symptoms. FASD often goes undetected due to the lack of visible symptoms, but recent research shows it may affect more people than previously thought. Families and children with FASD face struggles, but early intervention and support groups offer hope for better outcomes.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is often referred to as the 'invisible disability' because it lacks obvious physical symptoms and is underdiagnosed.
• 👶 Moses, a 5-year-old, shows symptoms of FASD, such as trouble with loud noises and intense emotional reactions, which led his family to seek a diagnosis.
• 👩‍⚕️ Dr. Judith Eckerle from the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital explains that children with FASD may have high IQs but struggle with impulse control and abstract reasoning.
• 📊 FASD is more common than previously thought, with an estimated 1.1 to 5 percent of the U.S. population affected, making it potentially more widespread than autism.
• 🔍 Many children with FASD go undiagnosed because symptoms are often subtle and not recognized by healthcare professionals.
• 🧠 MRI research by Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak shows that prenatal alcohol exposure causes brain abnormalities, particularly in areas responsible for attention, perception, and information processing.
• 🤔 FASD can be mistaken for ADHD, as both conditions share symptoms like hyperactivity and short attention spans, but their causes differ.
• 🧩 Children with FASD often struggle with abstract thinking, as illustrated by the example of Amelia Bedelia, who takes instructions literally without understanding their multiple meanings.
• 👥 Support groups and meetings, like those organized by the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, help children with FASD and their families cope with the challenges and find community support.
• 💔 Birth mothers like Carol Peterson, who drank alcohol before knowing they were pregnant, often experience guilt after their child is diagnosed with FASD, as seen with her daughter Kylene.

Q & A

What is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can lead to a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems in children. It is often referred to as an 'invisible disability' because it can be hard to diagnose without clear physical symptoms.

What are some of the challenges associated with diagnosing FASD?

Diagnosing FASD can be difficult because only the most severe cases show physical symptoms, such as distinct facial features. Most children with FASD have internal differences like brain damage, which is harder to detect. Additionally, many healthcare providers are not trained to recognize the signs of FASD, and the symptoms can overlap with other disorders like ADHD.

How does prenatal alcohol exposure affect a child's brain?

Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause brain damage, leading to cognitive and behavioral issues. MRI scans show that the brains of children with FASD are often smaller, with abnormalities in regions responsible for functions like attention, perception, and information processing. This can result in issues with impulse control, hyperactivity, and difficulties in abstract reasoning.

How common is FASD in the U.S. according to recent studies?

Recent studies suggest that FASD is far more common than previously thought, affecting between 1.1% and 5% of the U.S. population. This means FASD may be more common than autism, cutting across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines.

Why do many children with FASD go undiagnosed?

Many children with FASD go undiagnosed because people often don't know what to look for, and symptoms can be mistaken for other disorders like ADHD. Additionally, children without visible physical symptoms may not be recognized as having FASD, leading to a lack of appropriate diagnosis and support.

What are some of the overlapping symptoms between FASD and ADHD?

Both FASD and ADHD share symptoms like hyperactivity, short attention spans, and impulse control issues. However, the underlying causes of these symptoms differ, with FASD being caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.

What kind of support do children with FASD and their families need?

Children with FASD often require early intervention to help manage symptoms. Support groups, like the one described in the script, offer a space for children to socialize with peers who have similar challenges, and for parents to connect and share strategies for managing their children's behavior. Family and community understanding are also crucial in reducing stigma and isolation.

What is the role of early intervention in managing FASD?

Early intervention can help mitigate the effects of FASD by providing targeted support for cognitive, social, and behavioral development. Though there is no cure for FASD, early diagnosis and intervention strategies can improve the quality of life for children affected by the disorder.

How do adoptive parents and birth mothers experience the FASD diagnosis differently?

For adoptive parents, an FASD diagnosis may be challenging but does not come with personal guilt, as they were not responsible for the prenatal alcohol exposure. In contrast, birth mothers may experience feelings of guilt and shame, especially if they consumed alcohol before knowing they were pregnant.

What are some of the emotional impacts on birth mothers whose children are diagnosed with FASD?

Birth mothers, like Carol Peterson in the script, often experience guilt and wonder if their alcohol consumption during pregnancy caused their child's developmental delays. This emotional burden can be heavy, especially when the child is diagnosed later in life.