Developmental Delays – Most children with FASD have developmental delays and some have lower than normal IQ levels. The degree of physiological characteristics usually corresponds with the degree of developmental delays. Most children with FASD have IQs that are legally considered in the “normal” range.
Central Nervous System – Most infants with FASD are irritable, don’t eat or sleep well, are extra sensitive to sensory stimulation, and have a strong startle reflex. They may hyperextend their heads or limbs, and can exhibit hypertonia (too much muscle tone), hypotonia (too little muscle tone), or both.
Physiological Anomalies – Babies with FASD may have low birth weight, and may have trouble gaining weight. The head circumference may be smaller than normal. Some infants may have heart defects or suffer anomalies to the ears, eyes, liver or joints.
Facial Features (see diagram below)*
Babies with FASD have many (but not always all) of the following characteristics:
epicanthal folds (extra folds of skin originating under the eyes)
small, widely spaced eyes
flat midface
short, upturned nose
smooth, wide philtrum (absent or flattened groove between nose and lips)
thin upper lip
underdeveloped jaw
*note: facial characteristics may not be as apparent immediately after birth or during adolescence or adulthood as they are between the ages of two and ten.
Invisible but Serious*
The most serious characteristics of FASD are the invisible symptoms of neurological damage that result from prenatal exposure to alcohol. These include:
attention deficits
memory deficits
hyperactivity
difficulty with abstract concepts (math, time, money)
poor problem-solving skills
difficulty learning from consequences
poor judgment
immature behaviour
poor impulse control
*note: These symptoms are not “behaviour problems” but are a result of permanent, unchanging damage to the brain (static encephalopathy) and are not always within the child’s control.
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