Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe impacts on the brains and bodies of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol.
FASD is a whole-body disorder and a lifelong disability. Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living, and may need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills to reach their full potential.
Each individual with FASD is unique and has areas of both strengths and challenges.
That’s more than Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome combined. FASD is one of the leading neurodevelopmental disabilities in Canada.
is the estimated social and economic cost of FASD in Canada.
Learn more about FASD through our comprehensive FAQ
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe impacts on the brain and body of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD is a whole-body disorder and a lifelong disability. Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living, and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills to reach their full potential. Each individual with FASD is unique and has areas of both strengths and challenges.
Impact of prenatal alcohol exposure may include:
Getting an early diagnosis followed by targeted interventions are key to improving outcomes for people with FASD. The Canadian Diagnostic Guidelines for FASD were revised in 2016. In Canada, we no longer use terms like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Effects.
There are now only two categories of diagnoses available in Canada:
There is also a new “at risk” category for people who have impairments in some of the ten brain domains characteristic of FASD, but not enough domains to confirm a diagnosis.
The majority of people diagnosed with FASD have “FASD without Sentinel Facial Features”. Only an estimated 10% of people with FASD have “FASD with Sentinel Facial Features”. These facial features are:
When these three sentinel facial features occur together, it is very predictive of prenatal alcohol exposure. If a person being assessed for FASD does not have all three sentinel facial features, the diagnostic team must confirm prenatal alcohol exposure to make a diagnosis (Cook et al., 2016). It is important to note that presence of the three sentinel facial features is NOT related to the severity of impacts to the brains and bodies of people with FASD.
FASD is a spectrum and each person with FASD is unique with areas of strength and challenge. The vast majority of individuals with FASD do not have easily recognizable physical characteristics.
A small percentage (<10%) of people with FASD will have “sentinel facial features” depending on the timing of prenatal alcohol exposure, but for the vast majority, FASD is an invisible disability.
Common strengths include friendliness, caring, desire to help, being gifted with animals, and the ability to start each day fresh.
Common challenges include issues with attention, memory, and learning. People with FASD often have sensory issues and difficulty understanding social cues. Research indicates that FASD is associated with over 400 co-morbid medical conditions, and the majority of individuals with FASD will experience mental health issues (Popova, 2016).
There is no cure for FASD as the effects resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure are permanent. Research is demonstrating many ways to improve outcomes for individuals with FASD.
The best predictors of improved outcomes are early diagnosis; early intervention with evidence-based strategies; and a stable, loving home environment. The majority of people with FASD will require support in certain areas across the lifespan.
People with FASD can make valuable contributions to society, and with appropriate supports and services, can live fulfilling lives.
