This section answers common questions about FASD and how the clinic works. If you still have questions, please get in touch using the details on our contact us page.
You can also watch more videos of Professor Raja Mukherjee answering common questions about FASD on our YouTube channel. Watch the full playlist here ›
How does the lifestyle of an individual increase their risk of having a child with FASD? Okay, so alcohol is not something that people start drinking when they're pregnant. It's part of their general health and lifestyle. And so what we need to understand is for anybody's individual risk, what are the different factors that may be influencing that? So, are they generally healthy? Do they have a good diet? Are they on any medication? Do they smoke? Do they drink alcohol? You know, and most people in the UK, men and women, drink some form of alcohol. Now, they may be heavy drinkers, they may be occasional drinkers, but that is part of their lifestyle. Pregnancy is not something that is different to that lifestyle. It is something that happens naturally within people's lives when they choose to go to have children. And most people, it's not planned. It just happens when they're not taking precautions. And so often what you'll find is that lifestyle that exists pre-reg will go into the pregnancy until they change and they identify unless they're planning it and they've made changes before. The guidance is that if you're planning a pregnancy or become pregnant that you should avoid alcohol because we don't know what can affect an individual at what stage. And so lifestyle becomes important because that's what influences into the pregnancy and what influences after the pregnancy. And what we're interested in is what was the lifestyle of the individual before, how did that change, and then when did it change again after pregnancy? And so we're looking at the whole concept of that um to see how it all fits together.
What should I do if I think my child has FASD?
- Speak to your NHS GP or healthcare professional
- The FASD clinic assesses children aged 6 and over.
What does FASD stand for?
FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. This can happen when a fetus is exposed to alcohol before birth.
You may also hear terms like “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome” or “Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder.”
Today, the most common diagnoses are:
- FASD with Sentinel Facial Features
- FASD without Sentinel Facial Features
How common is FASD?
It’s more common than many people think.
- In the UK, studies suggest between 2% and 4% of people may have FASD (McCarthy et al., 2021)
- In some groups, such as children in care, the number is higher, up to 27% (Gregory et al., 2015).
Source: McCarthy, R., Mukherjee, R. A., Fleming, K. M., Green, J., Clayton‐Smith, J., Price, A. D., ... & Cook, P. A. (2021). Prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Greater Manchester, UK: An active case ascertainment study. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 45(11), 2271-2281.
Gregory, G., Reddy, V., & Young, C. (2015). Identifying children who are at risk of FASD in Peterborough: working in a community clinic without access to gold standard diagnosis. Adoption & Fostering, 39(3), 225-234.
What difficulties might someone with FASD have?
FASD affects everyone differently. Some people might:
- Struggle with learning, memory, attention, language, executive functioning, motor, and experience sensory difficulties
- Find it hard to control emotions or behaviour
- Have difficulties with communication or daily routines.
Is it safe to drink when pregnant?
There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy.
Even small amounts may affect the baby’s development.
The safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
What are sentinel facial features and are they needed to be present to get a diagnosis?
No.
Only a small percentage of people with FASD have all 3 sentinel facial features and having them does not necessarily imply a more severe form of FASD or greater impairment. Sentinel facial features include short palpebral fissures (the opening between a person’s eyelids), a flat or smooth philtrum (the ridge between our upper lip and nose) and thin upper lip vermilion.
FASD is a lifelong condition, but with the right support in place, people can live fulfilling lives.
After diagnosis, we provide detailed guidance to help local services support the person.
This helps reduce the risk of social or emotional difficulties developing later.
We do not accept private referrals.
You must be referred by an NHS professional. However, you may choose to pay privately once a referral is made.
We are an NHS Clinic; however, we do accept private payment in cases where an application for NHS funding has been unsuccessful.
To find out how much our service costs, contact us at FASDadminteam@sabp.nhs.uk or phone 01737 288 813.
Even when paying privately, the referral must be made through an NHS GP or healthcare professional. If payment is made privately, this will not change the course of care or position on the waiting list.
For more information on applying for funding, please contact the FASD clinic atFASDAdminteam@sabp.nhs.uk or telephone 01737 288813.
We use guidance from:
-
SIGN-156 (used by the NHS in Scotland)
- NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends this guidance for diagnosing FASD in the UK.
We provide an understanding of the person's strengths and difficulties, and give clear, practical recommendations in a report.
These can be shared with local services to help set up the right support for the individual.