Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Occur in at least 1%--probably closer to 4%--of the population, yet are almost never recognized, as the facial features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are present in just a small fraction of affected people.
- Include a small fraction of people with facial abnormalities; most people look totally normal.
- Can mimic the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, AD/HD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Reactive Attachment Disorders, among others.
- Range widely in severity and presentation from mental retardation to mild attention, learning or social problems, with AD/HD symptoms the most common.
- Are most problematic for people with otherwise normal intelligence, affecting reasoning, memory and judgment. In these cases the symptoms often masquerade as "attitude" problems.
- Fill our jails and prisons, homeless shelters and hospital emergency rooms, chronic welfare caseloads and substance abuse centers.
- When recognized and appropriately addressed, can be managed so that the person's true gifts have a chance to bloom.
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The following are just a few of the growing supply of good articles:
Here is a link to a video we made in Santa Clara Co; it's on the CADFP website, a useful site in itself with several other good videos on FASD:
and this is one from the MIND Institute:
And a couple other trusted websites:
Let me know if you'd like more resources!
