Curriculum for Addiction Professionals > Competency 2: Identification of FASD and Diagnosis of FAS > 7. Signs and Symptoms of FASD That May Be Confused with Other Disorders
Competency 2: Identification of FASD and Diagnosis of FAS
Signs and Symptoms of FASD That May Be Confused with Other Disorders
Because diagnosing an FASD is so difficult, many individuals with an FASD are diagnosed
and treated for individual symptoms or conditions, such as attention deficit disorder,
rather than an FASD. A
co-occurring disorder may be noted and the prenatal
alcohol exposure may be missed. Co-occurring disorders with an FASD may include:
If an FASD is not recognized, misdiagnoses are common. This problem often occurs
with adolescents and adults. Signs and symptoms of FASD that may be missed or attributed
to other causes include:
- Attention problems
- Bonding problems
- Feeding problems
- Delayed development
- Speech and hearing deficits
- Vision problems
- Hyperactivity
- Poor coordination
- Learning problems
- Memory lapses
- Clumsiness
- Temper tantrums
- Disobedience
Identifying alcohol exposure as a problem can help in choosing appropriate interventions.
For example, medications that are used to treat attention deficits may not be effective
in persons with an FASD if the medication is used for a chemical imbalance and the
deficits are caused by structural brain damage. In addition, seemingly defiant behavior
may be caused by frustration in not understanding directions. Persons with an FASD
often have trouble following directions, especially when multiple steps are involved.