Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0170 |
| Title: | Mental development of 2 year old children exposed to alcohol in utero |
| Author(s): | Autti-Ramo I, Korkman M, et al. |
| Reference: | J of Pediatr 1992; 129: 740-6 |
| Place of Study: | Finland |
| Abstract: | In a prospective follow-up study, 60 children exposed to alcohol in utero were assessed by a psychologist and a speech therapist at mean age of 27 months. Many mothers had been able to reduce their alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so the children could be divided into those exposed to heavy drinking during the first trimester only (group 1), those exposed during the first and second trimesters (group 2) and those exposed throughout pregnancy (group 3). There was a control group of 48 non-exposed children. No definite effect of alcohol exposure on mental or language development was found in group 1. Children in group 3 scored significantly lower than children in group 1; delay in language development was seen more often in group 2 than in group 1. The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome was made in seven children (one in group 2 and six in group 3) and the diagnosis of fetal alcohol effect in 13 children (one in group 1, three in group 2 and nine in group 3). The conclusion of the authors is that effort should be made to identify and find proper treatment for women who drink alcohol early in their pregnancies. |
| Keyword(s): | alcohol in pregnancy, fetal alcohol exposure, intellectual development, neuro-development |
| Discussion: | See entries 0169 and 0171 |
| See Also: | 0169, 0171 |
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