The effect of intrauterine alcohol exposition in various durations on early cognitive development

Fifty-three children exposed to alcohol of various duration were examined at 18 to 19 months of age. No significant difference was found in developmental outcome between non-exposed (n = 56) and during the I trimester exposed children (n = 21). Exposure until the III trimester (n = 19) or continuous exposure (n = 13) caused significantly lower scores in language and total mental assessment. The procentual numbers of children with possible developmental risk (failure or pass at acceptance limit) in various developmental fields grew with increasing duration of intrauterine alcohol exposure. Failures in gross or fine motor items differed significantly between the non-exposed and the two long exposed children but in language items only between the non-exposed and the children exposed until the III trimester. A high number of exposed children scored just the limit values indicating a milder form of developmental delay. In comparison with the developmental results of one year of age an increase in delay in cognitive development was seen. The incidences of other teratogenic effects (pre- or postnatal growth retardation, facial dysmorphia) of fetal alcohol exposure were highest in the continuous exposed group. Five (38%) of the continuous exposed children had typical fetal alcohol syndrome and only 1 (5%) of the children exposed until the III trimester.