What's FASD anyway?

FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term for several diagnoses that are all related to prenatal exposure to alcohol.

These are:

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS

• Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, PFAS

• Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, ARND

• Alcohol Related Birth Defects, ARBD

• Fetal Alcohol Effects, FAE

In addition people with FASD have often been diagnosed with Static Encephalopathy and occasionally with Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol (PEA) or Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE).

FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are a series of preventable birth defects caused entirely by a woman drinking alcohol at any time during her pregnancy. Even before she knows she's pregnant. Beer, wine, spirits it's all the same to the developing baby.

The term "Spectrum" is used because each individual with FASD may have some or all of a spectrum of mental and physical challenges. In addition each individual with FASD may have these challenges to a degree or "spectrum" from mild to very severe.

These defects of the brain and the body exist only because of prenatal exposure to alcohol, those of the spirit exist only because as the parent of a child with FASD states:

"Often the neurological damage goes undiagnosed, but not unpunished.

They can become the forgotten kids - the children that have nearly invisible disabilities. They have their arms and legs, can see and hear, run, play, etc., but most have never been to a birthday party or a sleepover. They are last to be chosen to play, and first to be blamed. Their illnesses aren't fatal, but a small part of their hearts and souls die with every rejection. Their behaviors may seem odd or unpredictable to themselves as much as society." -Bruce Richie FASLink

The challenges a person with FASD faces may include:

The Brain

Intellectual Disability, Mental Retardation

Memory Disorders

Learning Disorders

Attention Disorders

Sensory Disorders

Speech and Language Disorders

Mood Disorders

Behavioral Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sleep Disorders

Top

The Body

Visual and Eye Defects

Hearing and Ear Defects

Mouth, Teeth and Facial Defects

Weak Immune System

Epilepsy

Liver Damage

Kidney Defects

Heart Defects

Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Defects

Height and Weight Deficiencies

Hormonal Disorders

Skeletal Defects

Genital Defects

Top

The Spirit

Loneliness

School Expulsions

Addictions

Chronic Unemployment

Promiscuity

Unplanned Pregnancies

Sexual Deviancy

Poverty

Criminality

Prison

Homelessness

Depression

Suicide

Top