Support during diagnosis

For a person with suspected fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, it is important to discuss the possibility that prenatal alcohol exposure may have caused an acquired brain injury, and be a factor in the child, adolescent or adult’s clinical presentation. This may be difficult, particularly if the person’s birth parents are part of the clinical consultation.

A safe, sensitive and nonstigmatising approach is required; see Discussing alcohol use during pregnancy. A resource that can be used to aid discussion is the FASD Hub Australia guide: Information on diagnostic assessment for individuals and caregivers. The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD) also provides support for a person or family before and during the assessment process.

Consider the individual’s need for support and capacity to tolerate multiple assessments, including prolonged psychometric testing, physical examination or photos. Fatigue, frustration or other negative factors could confound test results and should be minimised where possible.