This conference will provide an overview of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 2-5% of U.S. children have FASD. To put this in perspective, FASD surpasses the prevalence of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Estimates are that the prevalence of FASD among children in foster care approaches 70%. Because alcohol-related disabilities are widely misdiagnosed and undiagnosed many children and adults with FASD are never diagnosed as having neurodevelopmental disabilities secondary to fetal alcohol exposure.

All children born with FASD have a developmental disability. FASD is a severe disability that gets worse over time. These children need early and ongoing intervention to help them deal with challenges with social interaction. For example, the inability to read social clues often leads to delays in development, decision-making, impulse control, and learning which for many results in school failure, behavioral and mental health challenges, and involvement in the juvenile and adult justice system.

Some impacts of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Texas include:
• 19,100 new cases each year
• 52 per day 367 per week
• 343,800 people with FASD birth – 18.
• Over 95% estimated to be undiagnosed
• Recurrence risk is 20%
• Mortality rate increased 540%
• Annual cost of care per child $22,810 and per adult $24,308.
• Lifetime cost of care per case is $2.4 million

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