Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

By Mohamed (Mo) Oshalla, MHSc.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. A sea of green and gold. Sights of merriment and happiness. And lots of green beer!

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just about drinking, but a lot of drinking happens. And it isn’t a mystery that, when drinking happens, other stuff could happen, too. Wink-wink.

So, I wanted to share with you some information about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), because its impact is big, especially in cultures where drinking is a normal part of life. Essentially, FASD is the result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy that causes damage to the developing fetus. The damage is permanent and can cause physical, intellectual, and/or behavioural issues that vary in severity.

How can we tell someone has FASD? It’s complicated. The platinum standard for diagnosis is a core team of professionals that know how to work together and place families at the centre of their care: an MD, Psychologist, Social Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Occupational Therapist. This is the team we have in our area, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Here are some quick facts about alcohol and FASD in Canada, all of which can be backed up by research evidence (just ask me for it!):

80% of women in childbearing years drink alcohol.
50% of pregnancies are unplanned and up to 60% of women learn they are pregnant weeks after conception.
4% of children are diagnosed with FASD. That’s really, really high.

So, it’s safe to conclude that a lot of pregnant women drink before they know they are pregnant. This makes preventing FASD tough. But, realistically, here’s what can be done to reduce or eliminate the risks:

Stop drinking when you know you are pregnant.
If you’ve had sex, stop drinking until you know you are NOT pregnant.

FASD isn’t easy to talk about, as there’s a lot of stigma around it. But if you ever need information, support or guidance, your doctor and CanFASD are great resources (canfasd.ca).

Have a happy (and safe) St. Patrick’s Day!

Mohamed (Mo) Oshalla, MHSc.,
Speech-Language Pathologist & Executive Director,
Ontario Speech & Language Services