What is FASD?
Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed.
Proclamations are issued in countries, states, provinces, and towns all around the world. Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska. People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The first FAS Day was celebrated on 9/9/99. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol. Anytime is a good time to raise awareness about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
FASD, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term for several diagnosis that are all related to prenatal exposure to alcohol (ie while a baby is still in the womb)
FASD is a series of preventable birth defects caused entirely by a woman drinking alcohol at any time during her pregnancy, often even before she knows she's pregnant. Beer, wine, spirits - it's all the same to the developing baby. The term "Spectrum' is used because each individual with FASD may have some or all of a spectrum of mental and physical challenges. In addition each individual with FASD may have these challenges to a degree or 'spectrum' from mild to very severe. These defects of the brain and the body exist only because of prenatal exposure to alcohol. Often the condition goes undiagnosed, or is misdiagnosed, for example as autism or ADHD, and this can lead to secondary disabilities. The challenges a person with FASD faces may include:
The Brain
- Intellectual Disability
- lowered IQ
- Memory Disorders
- Learning Disorders
- Attention Disorders
- Sensory Disorders
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Behavioural Disorders
- Autistic Like Behaviours
- Sleep Disorders
The Body
- Visual and Eye Defects
- Hearing and Ear Defects
- Mouth, Teeth and Facial Defects
- Weak Immune System
- Epilepsy
- Liver Damage
- Kidney Defects
- Heart Defects
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Defects
- Height and Weight Deficiencies
- Hormonal Disorders
- Skeletal Defects
- Genital Defects
Secondary Disabilities
- Loneliness
- School Expulsions
- Addictions
- Chronic Unemployment
- Promiscuity
- Unplanned Pregnancies
- Poverty
- Criminality
- Prison
- Homelessness
- Depression and Suicide