Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Below is a list of symptoms, challenges, or behaviours commonly associated with this condition.
Recognising these signs? Psychological Assessments Pty Ltd is here to help with understanding and managing these challenges.
Confirmed Exposure to alcohol during pregnancy
Was there confirmed alcohol use by the mother while she was pregnant?
Social Understanding
Is reading social signs or interacting with others hard?
Memory
Are remembering things and paying attention issues?
Self-Care Skills
Are tasks like using the bathroom, bathing, dressing, or eating challenging?
Attention
Is staying focused difficult?
Repeating Mistakes
Are the same errors made over and over?
Learning & Thinking
Are there struggles with learning or understanding new things?
Patience & Rules
Is waiting for a turn or following directions tough?
Understanding Space
Is telling left from right or judging distances hard?
Speech & Language
Is talking or understanding language developing late?
Social Cues
Is it tough to get the unspoken parts of socializing?
Emotional Control
Is handling feelings a challenge?
What is FASD?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can happen when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol while in the womb.
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it can affect the baby’s growth and development, especially their brain. As a result, individuals with FASDs might face certain challenges as they grow up.
FASD includes conditions such as:
-
- Neurodevelopmental Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE)
- Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
How is FASD diagnosed?
FASD is typically diagnosed using a multidisciplinary team (psychologist, paediatrician, occupational therapist, speech pathologist etc.) Factors involved in diagnosis include:
- Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure
- Severe impairment in 3 or more neurodevelopmental domains
- Brain Structure
- Motor Skills
- Cognition (IQ)
- Language
- Academic Achievement
- Memory
- Attention
- Executive Functioning including impulse control and hyperactivity
- Affect Regulation
- Adaptive Functioning, Social Skills, and Social Communication.
- Have 3 or less than 3 sentinel facial features (assessed by a doctor)
- Clinical observation
- Questionnaires
How Can We Help?
Our psychological assessments are designed to offer support for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Through our thorough evaluation process, we examine a child’s developmental milestones and cognitive, behavioural, and adaptive functioning to identify their unique strengths and challenges. By understanding the neurodevelopmental impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure, we can recommend intervention plans and support strategies tailored to address the child’s specific needs.
Our assessments also provide families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with valuable information and resources to create supportive environments that facilitate optimal development and well-being.
Whether it’s accessing specialised educational programs, implementing behavioural interventions, or coordinating multidisciplinary care and community support services, our assessments serve as a vital tool for improving outcomes and quality of life for those affected by FASD