Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can impact fetal development and cause irreversible birth defects and brain injury. Children with prenatal alcohol exposure are at risk of having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is not a diagnosis but rather an umbrella term describing the range of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. There are many terms under the FASD umbrella, including these medical diagnoses
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Alcohol Related Neuro-developmental Disorders (ARND)
Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)
Unfortunately, there is not a simple medical test (such as a blood test) that can be used to confirm a diagnosis. Instead, FASD is diagnosed by a team of trained professionals. Click here to learn more about the screening process.