Will the diagnosis of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome brand the child for life?
Without a diagnosis, the child with FAS(D) is often called lazy, unmotivated, a troublemaker, the class clown, a drifter, stupid, and much worse. It is important to get a diagnosis so that he/she can get appropriate services when they are young. It is important to know that FAS is not the child. The child may have FAS but it is not the complete determinant of the child’s personality. Most family Doctors and peadiatricians are not knowledgeable enough to diagnose FAS(D). It is suggested that the child be seen by a dysmorphologist, a geneticist or a neuropsychologist.