Growth deficiencies are documented when height, weight, or both fall at or below the 10th percentile of standardized charts (Chudley et al., 2005). Growth measurements must be adjusted for parental height, gestational age (for a premature infant), and other postnatal factors (e.g., poor nutrition), although birth height and weight are the preferred measurements (Chudley et al., 2005). Facial characteristics are the most notable in FAS. The three FAS facial features are: (1) A smooth philtrum, the divot or groove between the nose and upper lip flattens with increased prenatal alcohol exposure; (2) Thin vermilion: the upper lip thins with increased prenatal alcohol exposure;(3) Small palpebral fissures: eye width decreases with increased prenatal alcohol exposure (Vaux & Chambers, 2012). .
Central nervous system (CNS) damage is the primary feature of any FASD diagnosis. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause brain damage ranging from subtle to severe, depending on the amount, timing, and frequency of the exposure as well as genetic predispositions of the fetus and mother. During the third trimester, damage can be caused to the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory, learning, emotion, and encoding visual and auditory information ("What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?," 2013). Central nervous system dysfunction can include: microcephaly (small brain size), tremors, seizures, hyperactivity, fine motor skill difficulties, gross motor skill difficulties, attention deficits, learning disabilities, mental retardation, developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities (Sanford School of Medicine, 2009). Primary disabilities are those caused by structural and functional damages to the brain. Secondary disabilities are those the individual is not born with, but may be acquired as a result of central nervous system damage. It is important to note that not all exhibit secondary disabilities.
