PARKERSBURG - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome rates are on the rise in West Virginia.
A 2009 study by the West Virginia Perinatal Partners found one out of five West Virginia babies are exposed to drugs or alcohol before they are born.
"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the No. 1 cause of intellectual disability in the world, but the issue is that it is 100 percent preventable. If the mother does not drink while she's pregnant, the child will not have it," said Christina Smith, executive director of The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Center for Disease Control studies have shown 0.2 to 1.5 cases of fetal alcohol syndrome occur for every 1,000 live births in certain areas of the United States. Other studies estimate the rate of FAS at 0.5 to 2.0 cases per 1,000 live births. Prevalence estimates of alcohol use among women of childbearing age vary from state to state; 12.2 percent of pregnant women (about one in eight) reported alcohol use in the past 30 days.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of these problems.
FASDs are caused by a woman drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Although many women are aware that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects, many do not realize that moderate or even light drinking also may harm the fetus. The March of Dimes recommends pregnant women do not drink any alcohol, including beer, wine, wine coolers and liquor throughout their pregnancy and while nursing. In addition, because women often do not know they are pregnant for a few months, women who may be pregnant or those who are attempting to become pregnant should not drink alcohol.
Recent government surveys indicate about 1 in 12 pregnant women drink during pregnancy; about 1 in 30 pregnant women report binge drinking (five or more drinks on any one occasion); women who binge drink or drink heavily greatly increase the risk of alcohol-related damage to their babies.
When a pregnant woman drinks, alcohol passes through the placenta to the fetus. In the fetus's immature body, alcohol is broken down much more slowly than in an adult's body. As a result, the alcohol level of the baby's blood can be higher and remain elevated longer than the level in the mother's blood. One out of every 100 could be impacted by FAS or the effects of prenatal exposure.
Smith noted The Arc has information available including a lending library, lists of reference materials, and provides ongoing educational opportunities for family members, medical personnel and social service agency professionals who work with children or families affected by FAS or FASD and can provide referrals for assistance and further information.
"The West Virginia Birth to Three Program is another resource available, early intervention is critical," Smith said.
"We assist families not just with FAS, the educational advocacy issues are huge. In the school system, children with FAS may need special education services, and many times, without diagnostics, they may not be receiving the services that are appropriate for successful education for those with FAS," Smith said.
"Not every child has fullblown FAS. It's just the tip of the iceberg, underneath there are a multitude of combinations of FAS effects or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders," Smith said.
Physicians at Marshall University's School of Medicine said prevalence appears to be increasing based on increasing numbers of infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome, the study noted the number of cases at Cabell-Huntington Hospital tripled from 2003 to 2007. The average cost of infants diagnosed with NAS is $36,000.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders refer to the whole range of effects that can happen to a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These conditions can affect each person in different ways, and can range from mild to severe.
A person with an FASD might have: abnormal facial features such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum); small head size; shorter than average height; low body weight; poor coordination; hyperative behavior; difficulty paying attention; poor memory; difficulty in school, especially with math; learning disabilities; speech and language delays; intellectual disability or low IQ; poor reasoning and judgment skills; sleep and sucking problems as a baby; vision or hearing problems; problems with the heart, kidneys or bones.
Those with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder might have intellectual disabilities and problems with behavior and learning, they might do poorly in school and have difficulties with math, memory, attention, judgment, and poor impulse control. Those with alcohol-related birth defects might have problems with their heart, kidneys or bones or with hearing.
The Arc recently offered a workshop to help parents, educators and social service professionals identify and work with children born with fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. With early diagnosis and intervention, secondary conditions that often emerge in children who are affected can be reduced.
For more information contact Christina Smith at The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley by emailing christina.smith@arcwd.org, calling 304-422-3151, or visit the nonprofit agency's website www.arcwd.org.
