Alcohol use during pregnancy can damage the structure of any part of the brain. The functional impairment can be classified within 10 neurodevelopmental domains. The diagnosis of FASD requires severe impairment in at least 3 of these domains. The following information links these 10 domains to common difficulties seen in people with FASD, and provides tips for helping to improve their skills and manage daily activities.
Brain structure & neurology
Brain structure and neurology includes:
- abnormal head circumference
- structural brain abnormalities
- seizure disorder not due to known postnatal causes
- significant neurological diagnoses otherwise unexplained
Motor skills
Motor skills include:
- fine motor skills (manual dexterity, precision)
- gross motor skills (balance, strength, coordination, ball skills and agility)
- graphomotor skills (handwriting)
- visuo-motor integration
Cognition
Cognition includes:
- IQ
- verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills
- processing speed
- working memory
Language
Language includes:
- expressive skills
- receptive skills
Academic achievement
Academic achievement includes skills in:
- reading
- mathematics
- literacy (including written expression and spelling)
Memory
Memory includes:
- overall memory
- verbal memory
- visual memory
Attention
Attention has several components:
- Selective attention (i.e. focusing on a particular stimuli)
- Divided attention (i.e. attending to 2 or more stimuli at the same time)
- Alternating attention (i.e. switching focus from one stimuli to another)
- Sustained attention (i.e. focusing for a long period of time and with resistance to distractions).
Executive function, including impulse control and hyperactivity
Executive function refers to a set of higher-level skills involved in organising and controlling one’s own thoughts and behaviours in order to fulfil a goal with maximum efficiency.
Affect regulation
Affect regulation includes mood and anxiety disorders.
Adaptive behaviour, social skills, or social communication
Adaptive behaviour is defined as the life skills which enable an individual to live independently in a safe and socially responsible manner, and how well they cope with everyday tasks.
NOFASD fact sheets
Visit NOFASD Australia for a series of fact sheets for parents and carers
These cover topics such as characteristics across the lifespan, impulse control, information processing, memory, patterns and connections, sensory issues and attention, sleeping, and eating.