FASD

Despite FASD being more prevalent than the combined numbers of children being born each year with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Spina Bifida, Cerebal Palsy and Downs Syndrome, it is still relatively unknown in Australia. This may be due to the fact that it is mostly an invisible disability. Apart from a small number of people presenting with 3 sentinel facial features and others with microcephaly, a great many of those who have FASD go diagnosed for a very long time. Many may even reach their teens and adulthood without a diagnosis.  

 

Often children with FASD will fly under the radar until they hit primary school. Sometimes, depending on which brain domains have been affected the most and the other strengths the child presents with, their difficulties may be overlooked until they reach high school. In high school a higher demand on executive functioning and their biological drive to separate from their parents, and therefore the importance of belonging to a social group, increases. This places a lot of strain on the areas of cognition that deal with these skills.

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Bearing in mind that each child with FASD will be different, there are some common signs. 

- Poor memory retention: They may learn something today, be able to recite what they have learnt back to you right away but the next day or three days later it will be as though they have never learnt it at all.

- Dysmaturity: They may chat away with you as though they are older then their chronological age, but have a reading age far lower or an emotional capacity of a 3 year old at the age of 10.

- Poor concept of time: Often to the extreme of not understanding 'yesterday', 'this afternoon' or 'tomorrow' as concepts.

- Not understanding the concept of ownership: Often they will see something they like and take it home with them, or pick up siblings toys and take them to their room to play with. Often denying they have taken somebody's property because the concept of ownership is just not there. This can lead to another common sign, lying or confabulation.

- Lying: Often happens because the child has already forgotten that they have taken something, or they just don't understand the ownership concept so if asked a question such as, "Do you have Johnny's textas?" they will say no. Other times they may actually have trouble with receptive language, or be overwhelmed due to sensory overload, and not understand the question, so in order to meet the expectation of an answer they will just make something up (confabulation). 

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FASD can be a complicated diagnosis to make, and afterwards families can be overwhelmed with trying to get a grasp on what is actually happening for their child, what their needs may be, but equally how to identify and build on their strengths. Thankfully there are an increasing number of resources becoming available in Australia, and along with some great resources available on the internet, and education and health professionals becoming more aware, there are supports available. Unfortunately the biggest hurdle still is receiving a diagnosis.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FASD

FASD Hub Australia: their mission is to be a leading source of high quality, evidence-based content about alcohol and pregnancy and FASD in Australia. https://www.fasdhub.org.au/

NOFASD Australia: NOFASD Australia is a family-focused organisation and is the essential bridge linking those with lived experience with researchers and clinicians. https://www.nofasd.org.au/

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