Medical Centric Podcast
5 minutes
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Signs in Children
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASD, are lifelong effects of alcohol before birth. Alcohol passes from the parent's blood to the growing baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol, and no safe time to drink, during pregnancy. Some children with FASD are small for their age or have a small head. Some have certain facial features. These include a smooth groove between the nose and lip, a thin upper lip, and small eye openings. But most children with FASD do not have these features. More often the signs show up in learning and behavior. You may see poor memory, short attention, trouble with math, and poor judgment. A child may not learn from what happened last time. A child may seem to defy rules when they truly cannot remember or follow them. FASD is often missed or labeled as something else. ADHD, trauma, and other learning problems can look much the same, so only a trained team can make the call. You can notice patterns, write them down, and ask for an evaluation. Ask about the pregnancy gently and without blame. Early support at home and school helps these children do better. After this Concept you can spot possible signs of FASD and help a child get the right evaluation and support.