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 and the right supports helps people with FASD. The Canadian Diagnostic Guidelines for FASD were revised in 2016. There are now two categories of diagnoses available in Canada:
The sentinel facial features are three features on the face that indicate a child has been exposed to alcohol in pregnancy:
Most people with FASD do not have the sentinel facial features because they were not exposed to alcohol during the short time (3 days) in pregnancy when their face was forming. However, the sentinel facial features are very predictive of alcohol use in pregnancy. As people get older, the facial features usually become less noticeable. Having the facial features present is NOT related to the severity of brain damage. If a person does not have all three sentinel facial features, the diagnostic team must confirm that alcohol was used in pregnancy in order to make a diagnosis of FASD (Cook et al., 2016). FASD is known as an invisible disability because you can’t tell if someone has FASD just by looking at them. People diagnosed before 2016 may have received a diagnosis of: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) or Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD). In Canada, these terms are no longer used.
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.
