From the Research
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) impairs multiple neurocognitive domains, including executive function, memory, and attention, as well as adaptive skills such as daily living, communication, social skills, and self-regulation, with the most recent and highest quality study confirming significant impairments in adaptive functioning compared to alcohol nonexposed and ADHD groups 1. The neurocognitive domains affected by FASD include:
- Executive function deficits, affecting planning, organization, inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving abilities
- Memory impairments, including difficulties with both verbal and visual memory, particularly in encoding and retrieving information
- Attention deficits, manifesting as problems with sustained attention, selective attention, and divided attention, often resembling ADHD symptoms Adaptive skills impacted by FASD include:
- Daily living skills
- Communication
- Social skills
- Self-regulation Individuals with FASD typically struggle with understanding social cues, maintaining appropriate relationships, managing money, living independently, and regulating emotions and behavior, with the severity of these impairments varying widely depending on timing, amount, and pattern of alcohol exposure, as well as genetic and environmental factors 2. The most recent study on evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with FASD found that some therapeutic interventions are effective in alleviating negative consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure and relieving daily burdens, with a promising approach being the combination of parent and child sessions 3. Key findings from the studies include:
- Individuals with FASD have significantly lower adaptive functioning than other groups, with effect sizes ranging from 1.04 to 1.35 compared to alcohol nonexposed groups and from 0.30 to 0.43 compared to ADHD groups 1
- Executive functioning significantly moderates communication skills in FASD compared to the alcohol nonexposed group 1
- Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause a wide range of physical, neurobehavioral, and neurocognitive impairments that impact developmental trajectories throughout the lifespan 2
- Early intervention targeting specific domains can help improve outcomes for individuals with FASD 3