Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – FAS is a medical diagnosis for a specific pattern of characteristics resulting from the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. These characteristics include growth retardation, or being small for age, microcephaly (smaller than normal head), short palpebral fissures (small eye slits), smooth philtrum (vertical groove between the upper lip and nose), a thin upper lip, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) damage causing behavioral and cognitive (thinking, learning) problems. Evidence of prenatal alcohol exposure is sought but is not necessary for diagnosis to be made.
Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) – When a person has central nervous system damage like FAS indicated by behavioral and cognitive problems but without the distinctive facial features, the person may have FAE. Though the term appears in earlier studies and continues to be used by laypersons, some researchers in FAS have requested that the term FAE no longer be used due to the belief by some that FAE is less severe than FAS. THIS IS NOT TRUE. In fact, it may just mean that the child merely doesn’t have the facial features or the growth retardation, but the damage to the brain may be just as extensive. Because of the confusion surrounding this term, the following term is now being used more widely.
Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) is diagnosed when a child meets the criteria for brain damage but does not have all of the facial features or growth retardation of FAS. Again, ARND IS NOT A LESS SEVERE FORM OF FAS. In many cases, the brain damage in a patient with ARND is as extensive as that in a patient with FAS.
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD) are physical abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. They include: abnormalities of the eyes and the ability to see and process visual information; the ears and the ability to hear and process auditory information; the structure of the heart and the associated cardiac systems; and abnormalities in the limbs.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes a spectrum or range of clinical conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. 1) FAS with full distinctive facial features; 2) Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (PFAS) with some of the distinctive facial features; 3) ARND with little or no distinctive facial features.