Treatments & Life Expectancy
There is no known cure available for people affected by FAS/FASD. The physical defects and mental deficiencies typically persist for a lifetime. However, if caught early, treatment can help reduce some symptoms.
Treatment can include: special education teachers, speech therapist, physical and occupational therapists, and a psychologist.
Early intervention can help with walking, talking, and social skills. Special services in school can help with learning and behavioral issues. Medications can help with some symptoms. And last but not least, medical care for health problems such as vision problems or heart abnormalities.
According to PubMed, the life expectancy at birth of people with FAS is 34 years old (31-37 years). The leading causes of death for people with FAS were “external causes” (44%) which include suicide (15%), accidents (14%), poisoning by illegal drugs or alcohol (7%), and other external causes (7%). Other common causes of death were diseases of the nervous and respiratory systems (8% each), diseases of the digestive system (7%), congenital malformations (7%), mental and behavioral disorders (4%), and diseases of the circulatory system (4%).