NHS Mental Health Partnership: What is FASD?
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Exploring the spectrum of need, designed for professionals supporting 'stuck' & complex overlapping needs; tuning into prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)
Aim: To provide an overview of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder & its co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions to support NICE Quality Standards for FASD:
Identify how alcohol is Neuro-Developmental Trauma
The impact of alcohol on the brain and its vulnerabilities
Examine how the alcohol informs the spectrum of need and its co-occurring conditions
Review developmental milestones in the womb; the lifelong impact of brain damage
Recognise the brain functions and how FASD impacts development
Illustrate the facial features of FASD and when these are formed
Examine the developmental divergence of peers
Communication & safeguarding risks
Consideration of sexualised behaviours common to FASD
Vicarious trauma and supporting needs of families
Good practice in multi-disciplinary teams and signposting to 'FASD Informed' services
Good practice in neurodevelopmental support informs us that working towards being ‘FASD Responsive’ includes empowering all members of the team who come into contact with child/ren with prenatal exposure to alcohol.
We consider reflecting on ‘stuck’ cases and how to support multidisciplinary teams to move practice forward.
How many families supporting FASD experience secondary trauma; a vicarious type of trauma that impacts the whole body, as well as considering the child/young person/adult with FASD we reflect on the whole family where we signpost you to ways to help support very challenging cases where needs can change rapidly.
In practical terms, what would the indicators be for a professional when considering how FASD impacts a young person’s life story?
Although individual indicators vary greatly, this is an illustrative example of what life might be like for someone with an FASD profile:
I might appear to be very articulate but have problems understanding what you had just told me, as well as keeping track of what I was asked to do to correct my behaviour.
I might be dreadful at keeping appointments and generally organising my life, including poor money concepts and an inability to either plan or follow through on other’s plans for me.
I might be very impulsive without thinking of the consequences; and, even if corrected, I may do it again because I have great difficulty learning from experience.
I might appear truculent and challenging and act inappropriately for my age.
I might be anxious and developing mental health issues because I am being bullied or misunderstood so often.
I might have real skills and talents I am unable to demonstrate consistently because my life is so disorganised and stressful.
I might drink alcohol, take drugs, and engage in other risky behaviours (including sexual ones) because I have a very hard time controlling my impulses.
My sleep pattern will have been poor from an early age.
(Hayes, Moritz and Reid, 2020)
Online live delivery (120 minutes) includes Certification & FASD Resources; with progression opportunities to a higher level learning.
FASD InformedTM Education delivered by a strong experienced qualified team, tailoring a bespoke service to support your team in becoming FASD ResponsiveTM
©FASD Informed UK
