FASD 

and 

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Is FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, related to Autism Spectrum Disorder? The answer may surprise you.

But first a little explanation of how the categories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, also called FAS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder fit together:

There are several types of Autism that together with Asperger’s Syndrome fall under the category of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

There are several types of disorders caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol that together with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) fall under the category of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Both FASD and ASD are part of a broader category of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD).  Individuals with both types of disorders have developmental disabilities (DD).

Now that we have the categories straightened out, we know that FASD and Autism Spectrum Disorder are related through the general PDD or pervasive developmental disorder category, exactly how are they related?

How FASD and Autism Are Related

There may be an overlap of the two diagnoses.  Some children have Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  It is possible that some cases of Autism are indeed caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, just as many cases of ADHD are caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.  There is evidence that prenatal exposure to alcohol may be a factor in autism.

They share many of the same symptoms and are often treated together under the same educational and therapeutic programs.  Intervention strategies, services and treatment for children with Autism are often applied to children with FASD, and vice versa, so they are basically treated the same way.

In fact, many psychologists write in their reports that individuals with FAS have symptoms of Autism, and many actually receive that diagnosis.  It is believed that many of those individuals diagnosed with high functioning Autism or with Asperger’s Syndrome actually have an invisible form of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

I am not trying to say that all Autism cases are caused by alcohol – or that all FASD cases are actually Autism – I think alcohol consumption does cause developmental disabilities. I think that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Autism share many of the same symptoms.

My Experience

My experience with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder comes through my own daughter and the son of a family friend. He was adopted from the Soviet Union and it is believed that he was exposed to large quantities of alcohol prior to his birth. He was diagnosed with FAS at the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center (CTAC) through Western Michigan University Unified Clinics. My daughter is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (PDD-NOS) – also through one of the Unified Clinics. Yet the symptoms they present are almost identical! Even down to the “tip-toe” walking. There are so many moments of “that sounds just like Cosette” or “Wow! He does that, too!”

Regardless of the underlying causes (which will be argued and politicized until the end of eternity), these two syndromes present with many of the same symptoms and respond to similar therapeutic interventions. Get help for your child early as one of the biggest concerns of FAS is behaviors that, without appropriate services, could lead to a high risk of arrest, addiction, and/or homelessness.

Find Information

Don’t know where to look? Search for services that work with developmental disabilities, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder. Call your local Community Mental Health facility, and if your community is equipped, call your local 211 line to ask about autism, developmental disability (DD) resources in your community.

National 211 Collaborative: http://www.211.org

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: http://www.nofas.org

National Autism Association: http://www.nationalautismassociation.org

Autism Society of America: http://www.autism-society.org

Return from FASD to Developmental Disability