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Date:Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Children can suffer from various developmental disabilities. Some of the defects are natural while others are human-caused. Some are curable while others are incurable. Examples of development disorders include genetic disorders, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders(FASDs), neurodevelopment disorders and autism spectrum disorders(ASD). FASDs are an example of developmental disabilities that are avoidable. FASD is an acronym used to explicate a group of developmental disorders that are caused by the exposure of the fetus to alcohol (Clarren 1063). The most severe FASD is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS).
When a pregnant woman takes in alcohol, it is absorbed by the fetus through the placenta. The placental barrier is not able to block ethanol. The fetal liver lacks ADH and ALDH enzymes. It is, therefore, unable to detoxify ethanol. Eventually, ethanol builds up in the fetus. The concentration of these alcoholic substances inhibits proper absorption of oxygen and nutrients. This leads to underdevelopment of vital organs (Webster et al. 237). The effects of FAS are often permanent. The severity of FAS depends on the quantity of alcohol consumed and the stage of fetal development. The effects of FAS are more pronounced when the fetus is exposed to alcohol during the first three months of pregnancy.
The signs of FAS vary from child to child. These signs and symptoms can appear as growth disorders, abnormal facial and structural features, and dysfunction of the central nervous system.

Children with FAS have a small head, slow growth in weight and height, deformed limbs, and abnormal bone growth (Clarren 1065). They also exhibit poor judgment, intellectual disabilities, and poor coordination.
FAS is incurable. However, over the years, various diagnoses have been developed to suppress the symptoms. For example, antidepressants are administered to reduce sadness. Stimulants are applied to minimize problems with focus. Besides medication, neural therapy is used to suppress the symptoms of FAS.

Works Cited
Clarren, Sterling K., and David W. Smith. “The fetal alcohol syndrome.” New England Journal of Medicine 298.19 (1978): 1063-1067.
Webster, W. S., et al. “Some teratogenic properties of ethanol and acetaldehyde in C57BL/6J mice: implications for the study of the fetal alcohol syndrome.” Teratology 27.2 (1983): 231-243.