FASD

What is FASD?

FASD is a diagnostic term describing the wide range of mind-body effects from exposure to alcohol in the womb. The associated manifestations and their severity represent a continuum, from mild to severe, with each individual with FASD having a unique profile of strengths, capabilities, and areas in need of additional support.

FASD is a lifelong disorder. There is no cure, but early and appropriate supports can make a positive impact and improve outcomes for individuals with FASD.

Prevalence

FASD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in Canada, with estimates as high as 4%. However, due to various factors, including limited diagnostic capacity, these estimates are likely conservative. Although FASD affects many Canadians, awareness and understanding of FASD among the public and service providers pale in comparison to other neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism spectrum disorder. Improving FASD awareness among service providers is crucial to enhancing access to and the quality of services.

Strengths & Successes

Individuals with FASD have intrinsic strengths that can be nurtured through protective and promotive factors like positive relationships and a structured environment.

Children and adolescents with FASD have this incredible sense of self that shines through when they engage in passions like art, music and athletics. Kate, a young person living with FASD, refers to her creative abilities as her “superpower.” She is an active member of her community and channels her talent into designing and selling greeting cards. The proceeds from her work are donated to a charity that helps families cover the cost of FASD assessments at a local university (Kinspel, 2023).

Traits, such as resilience, being goal-directed and hard working, are present throughout the lifespan and contribute to meaningful achievements like completing post-secondary courses, participating in the community, and maintaining stable employment.

At all ages, individuals with FASD demonstrate a deep capacity for human connection, expressed through their generous and loving spirit. They are non-judgemental, out-going, friendly, affectionate, amazing with children, the elderly, individuals with physical disabilities, and animals.

CHALLENGES

Like everyone else, individuals with FASD may benefit from additional support in certain areas. Individuals with FASD may report difficulties in areas like learning, memory, attention, language, social skills, motor skills, executive functions, emotions, independent living skills, and reasoning.

In everyday life, these challenges may look like:

  • Being impulsive

  • Not understanding consequences

  • Being unfocused and easily distracted

  • Difficulties keeping up with classroom learning

  • Challenges handling money

  • Challenges learning how to tell time

  • Forgetting how to do something they’ve done before

  • Having trouble staying organized and planning ahead

Each individual will experience different challenges, and their challenges may differ depending on where they are in their life.

Individuals with FASD are disproportionately impacted by adversity

Due to a range of complex and often intersecting factors, individuals with FASD are disproportionately impacted by both prenatal and postnatal adversities. These may include caregiver and academic disruptions, exposure to substance use and violence, intergenerational trauma, involvement with the legal system, mental health challenges, and difficulties with employment and housing.

These challenges underlie the importance of evidence-based supports to facilitate positive social outcomes

 Common Misconceptions about FASD

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 Common Misconceptions about FASD *

  • There is a misconception that all people with FASD have distinctive facial features that make them "look different". In reality, a small minority of individuals with FASD present with sentinel facial features (SFF), like small eyes and a small lip line (Grubb et al., 2021; Shelton et al., 2018). Recent diagnostic guidelines recognize SFF as one possible indicator of FASD but not a standalone criterion for diagnosis, such that an individual can have FASD with or without SFF (Cook et al., 2016). Hence, in many cases, FASD is a “hidden disability”, meaning that it may not be as obvious to others (Pei et al., 2023).

  • A common stereotype is that individuals with FASD have a low IQ, and while that may be true for some individuals, it does not characterize everyone. IQ scores vary in FASD populations from very low to very high. Individuals with FASD may have a high IQ but have impairment in other brain domains (e.g., adaptive functioning, executive functioning). As such, IQ alone is not a sufficient indicator of the challenges someone with FASD may face (Tortorelli et al., 2023).

  • There is not sufficient evidence to suggest that individuals with FASD have a shortened lifespan, particularly when examining individuals who have appropriate and tailored support. There is a myriad of factors that can impact the length and quality of an individual’s life, and although FASD is a lifelong diagnosis, challenges can be circumvented with proper identification, education, and support. Individuals with FASD can live long and meaningful lives.

  • A harmful and stigmatizing narrative suggests that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) only affects certain racial or ethnic communities. In reality, FASD can occur in any population where alcohol is consumed and can affect individuals of all social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. It is a complex neurodevelopmental disability influenced by social determinants of health, which impact people across all racial and ethnic groups (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2016; Wemigwans, 2008). Moreover, FASD is not an issue limited to Canada or North America—it is a global concern.

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Additional Resources

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Additional Resources *

  • The Canada FASD Research Network prepared a helpful language guide that promotes dignity and respect.

  • With the growing shift toward strengths-based research and understanding of FASD, there are valuable resources that highlight the unique strengths and talents of individuals with FASD.

    These include a brief issue paper by Flannigan and colleagues (2018), a study by Kautz-Turnbull and colleagues (2023), and a review article by Flannigan and colleagues (2021).