Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) result from prenatal exposure to alcohol. Lifelong effects may include a range of physical, mental, and behavioral and/or learning problems.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most involved and recognizable diagnosis; however, the majority of people with a diagnosis on the spectrum have no physical features of the disability. Using an iceberg analogy, FAS represents the tip of the iceberg, while the remaining diagnoses are represented by the majority of the iceberg that remains out of sight.
Children who exhibit central nervous system deficits should be evaluated for FASD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others estimate that the full range of FASDs might number as high as two to five per 100 U.S. schoolchildren. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis contribute to the higher risk for secondary and co-occurring conditions. Learn more by accessing the AAP FASD Toolkit, www.aap.org/fasd.
