Definition

Noun: A congenital medical condition in which physical deformities, abnormal facial development, or impaired mental ability occur because the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy.

Usage

This term is used exclusively as a medical diagnosis. It describes a specific set of developmental disorders and is a formal, clinical term. - It is typically used in healthcare, public health education, and scientific literature. - It is often abbreviated as FAS.

Examples

• The pediatrician diagnosed the child with fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Public health campaigns aim to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome by educating expectant mothers.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome is a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability.

Advanced Usage

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): This is a broader umbrella term that includes fetal alcohol syndrome as the most severe diagnosis, along with other conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
  • While he doesn't have full fetal alcohol syndrome, his learning difficulties are consistent with a condition on the fetal alcohol spectrum.

Variants and Related Words

• FAS: The common acronym for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders): The broader diagnostic category.

Synonyms

• Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND): A related condition under the FASD umbrella focusing on neurological and behavioral issues without the full physical features of FAS.
• Static encephalopathy (alcohol-related): A formal neurological term sometimes used.

Note: While these terms are related and fall under the FASD umbrella, they are not perfect synonyms, as they describe specific variations within the spectrum of conditions.

Noun

1. a congenital medical condition in which body deformation occurs or facial development or mental ability is impaired because the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy