Identification: How to Recognize FASD

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A CHILD LIVING WITH THE EFFECTS OF PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO ALCOHOL?  Chances are good you have known some.

• While some may believe all kids with FASD have developmental disabilities or can be identified by their distinct facial features – THIS IS NOT TRUE.  Only a small percentage of people with alcohol-related brain dysfunction have developmental disabilities and specific facial features.  
• A child may look like the rest of the children, have a typical IQ, but still have invisible brain dysfunction causing confusing, disruptive and challenging behaviors.  
• Children can have brain-based disabilities that look like willful misbehavior, non-compliance, defiance or lack of effort.  You can make a tremendous difference to a child whether or not a medical diagnosis has been made.
• REMEMBER – most kids are not identified or diagnosed as having an alcohol-related brain disorder.  You probably won’t know whether or not a child was exposed to alcohol prenatally.

Download the NOFAS Fact Sheet – FASD Identification: How to recognize FASD and guidelines for screening (PDF)