Exam 3: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Question 1

What is the most important thing to remember about fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 1

It is an entirely preventable cause of intellectual disability

Question 2

What is the most common human teratogen?

Answer 2

Alcohol

Question 3

What is the definition for fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 3

A pattern of physical, behavioral, cognitive abnormalities seen in individuals exposed to alcohol in utero

Question 4

First trimester alcohol exposure effects include:

Answer 4

• Craniofacial development abnormalities
• Abnormal organ development
• Decreased fetal growth through pregnancy

Question 5

Third trimester alcohol exposure effects include:

Answer 5

Decrease in brain size and number of brain cells

Question 6

Which population has possibly increased susceptibility for fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 6

Native Americans

Question 7

Classic facial characteristics of a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome:

Answer 7

• Small eye openings, nearsighted
• Smooth philtrum
• Thin upper lip
• Short, upturned nose
• Flat or absent groove between nose and upper lip (philtrum)
• Cleft palate
• Small jaw
• Low set or poorly formed ears

Question 8

What are important organ deformities related to fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 8

• Heart defects, murmurs, kidney and urinary defects
• CNS defects: small brain; faulty arrangement of neurons and connective tissue; intellectual developmental disability (mild to moderate but can be severe)
• Learning disabilities: short attention span, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity

Question 9

Diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome in newborns usually depends on:

Answer 9

• Looking at facial features, suspect alcohol exposure from history, low birth weight, poor growth, microcephaly
• Irritability
• Poor feeding behaviors
• Hypotonia

Question 10

If you see congenital malformation + low birth weight, you should be thinking about:

Answer 10

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Question 11

Why is diagnosis of FAS in children age 2 to 11 easier?

Answer 11

• facial features more prominent

- CNS dysfunction is more obvious–learning disability is evident

Question 12

FAS effect on cognition is easier seen in this age

Answer 12

Adolescent and adult

Question 13

Intellectual characteristics of FAS in adolescents and adults:

Answer 13

• Difficult life planning
• Impulsivity
• Poor problem solving
• Poor judgment

Question 14

IQ score in FAS:

Answer 14

Varies between 60s and 105 with an average score of 66

mild intellectual disability