Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Screening
FASD screening helps identify conditions in children caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, enabling early diagnosis and support to help children reach their full potential.
What is a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) screening?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can happen in a child who was exposed to alcohol before birth. These conditions can affect each person in different ways and can range from mild to severe, causing lifelong physical, emotional, and behavioral problems. No amount of alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy.
The term FASDs includes the following conditions:
- Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD). Can affect organ development, including the heart, kidneys, hearing, vision, and bones.
- Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE). Involves problems with mental health, memory, communication, impulse control, and daily living skills.
- Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopment Disorder (ARND). Causes problems with the brain and nervous system, including intellectual disabilities and behavioral or learning problems.
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The most severe type, causing both birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS). Involves some symptoms of an FASD, such as facial feature changes, but is less severe than other disorders.
What is it used for?
The screening is used to find out if your child has an FASD. While there is no cure, early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce some symptoms.
Why does my child need an FASDs screening?
A screening may be needed if you drank alcohol during your pregnancy and/or your child has symptoms of an FASD. Symptoms vary by age and may include:
Physical issues:
- Abnormal facial features (small eyes, thin upper lip, smooth skin surface between nose and upper lip)
- Small head size
- Lower than average height and weight
- Poor coordination
- Vision and hearing problems
- Problems with heart, kidneys, or bones
Learning challenges:
- Intellectual disability
- Delayed development
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor memory
- Speech and language delays
Behavioral issues:
- Hyperactivity
- Poor social skills
- Poor reasoning and judgment
What happens during an FASDs screening?
There is no single test for FASDs. Your provider may:
- Check for intellectual disabilities and developmental delays
- Look for physical features such as a small head, small eyes, and thin upper lip
- Assess if weight and height are below normal
- Look for behavioral symptoms such as short attention span and impulse control issues
- Check coordination, vision, and hearing
Some providers may use a 4-digit code method during a physical exam, rating categories on a scale of one to four to assist in making a diagnosis.