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How is foetal alcohol syndrome diagnosed?

There is no single test for foetal alcohol syndrome. A diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome will be made by the severity of symptoms, including: The distinctive facial features; Brain abnormality or mental problems, and; Growth deficits. If the condition is diagnosed early on in the child's life, early intervention strategies can be used to better effect. Brain imaging tests - recently several kinds of brain imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans are being used to identify and classify defects in the brains of people with foetal alcohol syndrome.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is foetal alcohol syndrome?

Foetal alcohol syndrome is part of a group of conditions in which a baby develops long-term complications due to exposure to alcohol, from the mother drinking during pregnancy. These complications include intellectual, physical and behavioural issues.

What are the symptoms of foetal alcohol syndrome?

People born with foetal alcohol syndrome show a range of symptoms at birth, in childhood and throughout life. Most of the major symptoms have to do with brain damage and can include growth deficits, cognitive and learning disorders, low …

What causes foetal alcohol syndrome?

Foetal alcohol syndrome is caused by consumption of alcohol by a woman during her pregnancy. The risk to an unborn baby of developing the syndrome is usually higher, the earlier and the more frequently an expectant mother drinks alcohol. However, even …

How is foetal alcohol syndrome treated?

There is no cure for foetal alcohol syndrome. By the time the baby is born, the effects of the syndrome are already in place and cannot be reversed. They are different for every person, but these effects can last a lifetime. Treatment by healthcare …

Can foetal alcohol syndrome be prevented?

On an individual level, foetal alcohol syndrome can be prevented by not consuming any alcohol during pregnancy. A 'safe' level of alcohol consumption in pregnancy is unknown. On a wider level, prevention of foetal alcohol syndrome focuses on: - …

Are there different types of foetal alcohol syndrome?

There are different degrees of damage that alcohol can do to an unborn child. Foetal alcohol syndrome is at the extreme end of the scale, and there are also other diagnoses such as partial foetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-related …

What is the outlook for foetal alcohol syndrome?

There is no cure for foetal alcohol syndrome. By the time the baby is born, the effects of the syndrome are already in place and cannot be reversed. They are different for every person, but these effects can last a lifetime. Treatment by …

What increases the chances of developing foetal alcohol syndrome?

The risks to an unborn baby from the mother's alcohol consumption are related to three main factors: 1) Quantity - how much alcohol the mother drinks. 2) Timing - at what point in the pregnancy she drinks. 3) Frequency - how …

How common is foetal alcohol syndrome?

Foetal alcohol syndrome is found in about one to three of every 1000 people worldwide.

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About this article

Author: Dr Bow Tauro PhD, BSc (Hons)
First answered: 12 Oct 2014
Last reviewed: 14 May 2019
Rating: 4.4 out of 5
Votes: 769 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Down syndrome

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