Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

What is FASD?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong condition caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it easily passes through the placenta to the baby. 

The baby’s liver is not fully developed, so it takes longer to break down alcohol. This means alcohol can stay in the baby’s body longer and at a higher concentration than in the mother.²

Because alcohol is toxic, it can permanently damage the baby’s developing brain, leading to:

• thinking and learning difficulties: memory problems, poor attention, difficulty with cause-and-effect reasoning and problem-solving
• emotional and behavioural challenges: trouble managing emotions, coping with stress, impulsivity, and poor judgment
• social difficulties: challenges understanding social rules, sticking to routines, and learning from experience
• motor skill issues: difficulties with movement and coordination, such as trouble with balance, walking, running or using hands and fingers for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, or using utensils.²

Alcohol also affects the development of other organs, which is why people with FASD often experience co-occurring physical health problems. 

More than 400 medical conditions have been found to co-occur with FASD, affecting almost every system in the body including:

• central nervous system (brain)
• vision
• hearing
• cardiac
• circulation
• digestion
• musculoskeletal
• respiratory.⁴

Signs of FASD 

FASD is a spectrum disorder, meaning it affects people in different ways and to varying degrees. 

The severity of FASD can depend on:

• the amount of alcohol consumed
• the timing of exposure during pregnancy
• the parent’s overall health, genetics, and use of other substances.²

Some people with FASD may have distinct facial features, known as sentinel facial features, including:

• short palprebal fissures (eye openings)
• thin upper lip
• flat or indistinct philtrum (the area between the nose and upper lip).²

While these features may suggest prenatal alcohol exposure, they’re not required for diagnosis of FASD.⁵

A person can also be diagnosed with FASD if there is confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure and ongoing challenges in three or more areas of brain function – such as attention, memory, or decision-making.⁵

Despite its significant lifelong impact, FASD often goes undiagnosed in Australia.

Our insights article, Recognising FASD: Why diagnosis matters further explores the challenges of diagnosing FASD, highlights why early and accurate diagnosis matters, and outlines efforts to improve understanding and support for those affected.