Information collected during the diagnostic assessment should be reviewed, ideally in a multi-disciplinary team context, to evaluate the strength of evidence to:
- support a diagnosis of FASD with 3 sentinel facial features or a diagnosis of FASD with less than 3 sentinel facial features; or
- consider whether the individual is at risk of FASD, requiring reassessment and/or further investigation; or
- exclude other causes of conditions; and/or
- assess the potential influence of other exposures and events
Information on co-existing conditions or other syndromes can be found in Appendix D of the Australian Guide to the diagnosis of FASD.
The FASD Diagnostic Assessment Form (Appendix A1) and the Summary Form (Appendix A2) summarise the clinical findings required to make a diagnosis of FASD.
Discussing the diagnosis and developing a management plan
After the diagnostic assessment, irrespective of the diagnosis, it is recommended that the health professional/s coordinating the diagnostic process:
- discuss with the individual/parents/caregivers the outcome of the assessments
- discuss the diagnosis and develop a management plan, incorporating parent/caregiver and patient goals, referrals, management strategies and review dates
- provide the individual/parents/caregivers with a written report
- discuss how this information may be important to share with relevant service providers
Further information is available in the Australian Guide to the diagnosis of FASD in Section F: Discussing the diagnosis and developing a management plan and Appendix A3: Australian FASD Management Plan Form, Appendix A6: Inforamtion for clinicians: Issues that individuals and their caregivers may experience during the FASD assessment process and Appendix A8: Inforamtion and resources for clinicians after a diagnostic assessment.
Read more information about developing a management plan.