Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Screening
Reviewed
A screening to find out if a child has a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) due to prenatal alcohol exposure. It involves a physical exam, developmental and behavioral assessment, and review of alcohol exposure history. There is no single lab test.
Preparation and collection
No special preparations are needed.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- There is no single test for FASDs; the screening combines multiple assessments.
- Symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary by age, making detection challenging.
- A screen-negative result does not guarantee absence of all alcohol-related effects.
- The screening relies on accurate reporting of prenatal alcohol exposure, which may not always be available.
What to do next
If the screening suggests a higher likelihood of FASD, your provider may recommend working with a team of specialists (special education teacher, speech therapist, physical/occupational therapists, mental health professionals), special school services, behavior modification therapy, mental health therapy, social skill training, vocational/life skill therapy, and medicines to help with some symptoms. There is no cure, but early treatment may improve development and quality of life.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Screening