CNS abnormalities associated with FAS include decreased cranial sizeat birth, structural brain abnormalities, impaired fine motor skills,neurosensory hearing loss, poor tandem gait, and poor eye-handcoordination.SECTION 4Diagnosis of FASBrain damage associated with FAS may include poor habituation(unable to filter out stimulus), poor self-regulation, impulsivity,attention deficits, slow central nervous system processing speed,arithmetic disability, poor capacity for abstraction or metacognition,deficits in higher level receptive and expressive language, poor impulsecontrol, memory problems, disorientation in time and space, poorjudgment, and difficulty with self-reflection. Children with FAS whohave IQ scores in the normal range may still have specific cognitive orneuropsychological impairments or problems with adaptive behaviorsthat do not register on IQ tests scores.Birth defects associated with FAS may include cardiac, skeletal, renal,ocular, and auditory dysfunction.Diagnosis of FAEUnfortunately, there are no biochemical tests or physical markers todetermine if a child has FAE. Symptoms may be unrecognizable atbirth and may be misdiagnosed as difficulties resulting from a difficultdelivery or other prenatal stressor. Further, the characteristics ofchildren with FAE can vary. Often children with alcohol related,organically based brain problems are never given a diagnosis of FAE.Failure to diagnose children with FAE occurs because many health careprofessionals, teachers, and parents are not knowledgeable enoughabout FAE to recognize the symptoms for what they are. Thecognitive, behavioral, and language manifestations of alcohol’s effectsare often attributed to disabilities such as attention deficit or generaldevelopmental delays.Diagnostic ToolsTwo screening tools specifically designed to diagnose FAS have beendeveloped in recent years. The first tool, the FAS Screen, helps to determinechildren who are at high or low risk for FAS. (See pages 24-27.)The second tool, the FAS Facial Photographic Analysis Software, usesthe latest in technological advances to identify children with FAS.(See pages 28-30.)<strong>FETAL</strong> <strong>ALCOHOL</strong> <strong>SPECTRUM</strong> <strong>DISORDERS</strong> <strong>florida</strong> <strong>resource</strong> <strong>guide</strong> 23
SECTION 4Diagnosis of FASThe FAS ScreenThis screening instrument, developed by Dr. Larry Burd is designedfor community-wide use to determine children who are at high or lowrisk for FAS. This tool can be used in both population based settings,such a public schools, and in clinical or institutional settings.Used with permission. Larry Burd, Ph.D.24 <strong>FETAL</strong> <strong>ALCOHOL</strong> <strong>SPECTRUM</strong> <strong>DISORDERS</strong> <strong>florida</strong> <strong>resource</strong> <strong>guide</strong>
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