Characteristics of FASD will change over time and children’s developmental age will differ from their chronological age, as students with FASD will follow an asynchronous developmental pathway. Generally, however, the following characteristics may be observed:
Indicators and characteristics often seen in newborns or Infants
- Low birth weight
- Small size
- Difficulty sleeping – unpredictable sleep/wake cycle
- Failure to thrive
- Feeding difficulties including weak sucking reflex
- Heart defects, kidney problems, or skeletal anomalies
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound and easily over stimulated
- Poor fine motor control
- Poor gross motor control
- Seizures, tremors, or jitteriness
- Susceptibility to infections
- Vulnerable to ear infections
Indicators and characteristics often seen in preschool aged children
- Missed or delayed developmental milestones such as walking, talking and toilet training
- Increased emotional over-reaction and tantrums
- Impulsivity and hyperactivity
- Difficulty with gross and fine motor skills.
- Lack of understanding of danger and stranger danger
- Small stature
- Speech delays (may include poor articulation, slow vocabulary or grammar development, or perseverative speech)
- Difficulty in learning new skills that other children find easy
- Difficulty with co-ordination and balance and muscle control
