WEST-E Special Education Practice Test

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is associated with which prenatal factor?

1. Maternal smoking

2. Maternal diabetes

3. Excessive alcohol consumption

4. Exposure to toxins

The correct answer is: Excessive alcohol consumption

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a condition that results from the exposure of a developing fetus to alcohol during pregnancy. Excessive alcohol consumption by the mother during this crucial time can disrupt normal fetal development, leading to a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive issues in the child. The effects can include growth deficiencies, facial anomalies, and problems with the central nervous system. The other factors listed, such as maternal smoking, maternal diabetes, and exposure to toxins, while they can have adverse effects on fetal development, are specifically not the cause of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Each of those factors is associated with different disorders or developmental issues but does not directly relate to the distinctive characteristics of FAS, which is solely linked to the intake of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy.