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ABOUT FASD

 

 


What is FASD?
 

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is the term used when a person has learning, behavioural and physical characteristics associated with exposure to alcohol in the womb. FASD can affect people from all cultural, social and economic backgrounds. FASD presents challenges and abilities that vary from person to person - that's why it's a "spectrum".

How does it happen?

FASD is caused when a baby is exposed to alcohol while in the womb. Alcohol passes through the placenta and can harm the baby's development at any time during pregnancy. A baby's brain develops during all the stages of pregnancy, so there is an increased risk of a baby being born with FASD with regular drinking during pregnancy. Binge drinking can also increase the risk of a baby being born with FASD. There are no safe limits or times for alcohol use during pregnancy.

How can we prevent it?

Prevention is not just a women's issue. Women's partners, families and communities need to provide support that promotes healthy choices. Young people need education about FASD before they become sexually active.

What are the signs?

 

FASD is often unseen, yet always experienced - it is an "invisible" disability. FASD facial features can be less noticeable by adolescence and adulthood. Only a doctor can diagnose FASD.


Physical Signs 

  • Low birth weight
  • Decelerating weight over time
  • Height and weight below the 10th percentile
  • Small eye openings
  • Flat mid face (cheek bones)
  • Flattened groove between nose and upper lip
  • Noticeable difference in shape or placement of ears
  • Thin upper lip
  • Small head circumference
  • Very short neck
  • Difference in sensory awareness
  • Hypersensitivity to touch / light
  • Joint and bone abnormalities
  • Hearing problems
  • Immune system problems (frequent illness, ear / throat / chest infections)
  • High pain tolerance
  • Allergies, asthma

 

Behavioural Signs

  • Easily over-stimulated
  • Disorganized
  • Hyperactivity
  • Impulsive
  • Lack of inhibition
  • Difficulty with transitions
  • Fearless
  • Unresponsive to verbal cautions
  • Truancy problems
  • Stubborn

 

Cognitive Signs

  • Memory problems - short term
  • Difficulty storing and retrieving information
  • Inconsistent performance - "on and off days"
  • Can repeat instructions but difficult to put into action
  • Difficulties with abstract concepts such as time, money and math
  • Auditory difference - may only understand every third word of conversations
  • Inability to predict outcomes

 

Primary Disabilities
 

Primary disabilities are those that a person is born with that are directly due to prenatal exposure to alcohol. Some examples include problems with:

  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Processing Information
  • Hyper / hypo activity
  • Spatial and sequential difficulties


Secondary Disabilities
 

As young people living with FASD reach adolescence they begin to encounter more complex situations and expectations. They may also begin to experience secondary disabilities such as:

  • Problems completing school
  • Trouble with the law
  • Mental health issues
  • Engaging in high risk behaviours
  • Employment difficulties
  • Living independently


People living with FASD are NOT born with secondary disabilities. And not everyone who has FASD will experience all of these secondary disabilities. Building strong supports early on will help reduce the likelihood of secondary disabilities.