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Glossary

An umbrella term that describes a continuum of conditions that result from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is not a diagnostic term.

The specific diagnoses within the spectrum include*:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) with Confirmed Maternal Alcohol Exposure

Diagnostic criteria include: Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure, the presence of all 3 characteristic facial features (short palpebral fissures, smooth philtrum, thin upper lip), growth deficiency, and evidence of impairment in 3 or more of the following central nervous system (CNS) domains: hard and soft neurologic signs; brain structure; cognition,; communication; academic achievement; memory; executive functioning and abstract reasoning; attention deficit/hyperactivity; and adaptive behaviour, social skills and social communication.

The diagnostic criteria are the same as above however the presence of prenatal alcohol exposure is unconfirmed.

The diagnostic criteria include: Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure, the presence of 2 of the characteristic facial features, and evidence of CNS impairment as above.

The diagnostic criteria include: Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure and evidence of CNS impairment as above.

This term should not be used as an umbrella term or diagnostic term. ARBD constitutes a list of congenital anomalies including malformations and dysplasias and should be used with caution.

FAE was a term formerly used to describe the impairment to a child exposed to alcohol prenatally, however the impairment was not sufficient to satisfy the criteria for a diagnosis of FAS.