Photo courtesy of Sterling Clarren, MD
What are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can range from mild to severe. They can affect each person in different ways and can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. The term FASDs is not intended as a clinical diagnosis. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/diagnosis.html)
FASD is not a diagnostic term. It refers to conditions such as:
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) which has the following characteristics: facial abnormalities (small eye openings, indistinct or flat philtrum, thin upper lip); growth deficiencies (low birth weight, slow weight gain); brain damage (small skull at birth, structural defects, neurological signs including impaired fine motor skills, poor eye-hand coordination and tremors). Pre-natal exposure to alcohol can be confirmed. Affected individuals may experience mental retardation, learning disabilities, attention deficits, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, and social, language and memory deficits.
Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) used to be used to refer to affected individuals who do not have facial features associated with FAS. FAE may still be used as a diagnostic term but more specific diagnostic terms have been developed as described below.
Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) includes various neurological abnormalities such as problems with communication skills, memory, learning ability, visual and spatial skills, intelligence and motor skills. Affected individuals have central nervous system deficits but do not have all the physical features of FAS.
Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) include defects of the skeletal and major organ systems. Individuals may have abnormalities of the heart, eyes, ears, kidneys, and skeleton.
FAS Center for Excellence has more information: http://www.fascenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNKLanguageFASD2.pdf