Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a disability that results from a person being exposed to alcohol while in the womb. The alcohol interferes with the growth and development of the fetus. The brain and central nervous system are at the highest risk of harm from the alcohol exposure. FASD is a full body disorder, meaning that it can impact all parts of the body.

FASD can cause any of the following disabilities:

• Cognitive disabilities:
  • Slower cognitive pace. Requires extra time to process information
  • Slower hearing processing. Takes longer to understand verbal information
  • Difficulty with organization, reasoning, planning, and completing a task
  • Forgetful and difficulty with memory
  • Poor judgement. Difficulty with predicting and understanding outcomes. Trouble with recognizing potential dangers
  • Difficulty with problem solving
  • Struggles to understand the difference between truth and fiction

• Behavioural disabilities:
  • Problems getting along with others
  • Difficulty reading and understanding social cues
  • Impulsive actions
  • Trouble understanding personal boundaries and personal space
  • Struggles with regulating emotions
  • Difficulty expressing empathy
  • Easily influenced, overly trusting
  • Easily overwhelmed

• Physical disabilities
  • Delayed development of gross and fine motor skills
  • Poor hand eye coordination
  • Poor balance
  • Lower height and weight
  • Poorly developed body systems such as skeletal, muscular, renal, and circulatory.

• Sensory disabilities
  • Higher or lower pain tolerance
  • Over or under reaction to sensory stimulation
  • Difficulty with sleep. Trouble falling asleep or staying awake
  • Unusually high or low activity levels