Behaviour and mood problems
Babies with FASD may have one or more of the following problems:

  irritable, nervous, or sensitive to sound and light
  cry often
  very quiet and not very responsive

Children with FASD may have one or more of the following problems:

  behavioural problems, such as oppositional defiant disorder and aggressive or defiant behaviours
  mental illness, such as depression or psychosis
  drug and alcohol problems
  anger control problems or violence

Poor judgment and the inability to connect an action with its consequences are the hallmarks of FASD. As a result, people with FASD are at high risk for getting in trouble with the law.

Physical problems

At birth, babies may have one or more of the following:

  low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg or 5 lb 8 oz)
  small head size
  face and mouth deformities
  flat shape of the face

  specific facial features may include thin upper lip, flatness under nose, and smaller eyes

Other physical problems may include:

  delayed growth
  small height and/or weight
  short height as an adult
  bone, joint, or muscle problems
  hearing problems
  repeated ear infections
  visual and eye problems
  genital defects
  heart defects
  kidney problems

How FASD is diagnosed
If you think that your baby could have been exposed to alcohol before birth, speak to your doctor. A health care provider can diagnose FASD by:

  asking about the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s birth
  doing a physical exam
  testing the child’s abilities to understand, communicate, move, and adapt
  measuring facial features

There is no cure for FASD
It is not easy to “treat” FASD. However, it is important to diagnose FASD early because there are some things that can help.

  Physical and occupational therapy can often help somewhat.
  A child with FASD should have psycho-educational testing to find specific difficulties. This will help the child get services in school that will help with the difficulties.
  Social workers can help the family cope and deal with family issues.