16. Fetal Alcohol syndrome

1 - Effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol
2 - Language disorders and physical anomalies
3 - Fetal alcohol syndrome and autism
4 - Teratogenic medications
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Nanson (1992) documented autistic disorder in children with fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS).  Since that time, other cases have been reported.  Additionally cases of autism
have been linked to maternal use of the anti-seizure medication valproic acid.  
Maternal use of alcohol and other drugs should be investigated in every case of
autism, especially in families with two or more children affected.  Brainstem nuclei of
high metabolic rate are vulnerable to damage from alcohol in a pattern of involvement
known as Wernicke's encephalopathy.  The autoradiographic deoxyglucose technique
has verified the vulnerability of the auditory system to alcohol in both mature and
immature laboratory animals.
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Preface

III -
EVIDENCE OF NEURO-
LOGICAL  IMPAIRMENTS
9.   The nature of autism
10. Language and hearing
11. The auditory system
12. Brainstem nuclei
13. Perinatal vulnerability
14. Brainstem damage
15. Neuropathology
16. Fetal alcohol syndrome

17. Phenylketonuria
18. Regressive autism

Fetal alcohol
syndrome & autism
Effects of prenatal
exposure to alcohol
Language disorder,
physical anomalies
Teratogenic
medications