Problems with Thinking and Speech
Children with FASDs have difficulty with thinking, reasoning and normal speech. The average IQ of a child born with FASDs is between 65 and 80. A normal IQ is 100, with a standard deviation of 15 points in either direction to create a normal IQ range. However, IQs of less than 85 are considered indicators of mental retardation, and IQs less than 70 indicate severe retardation.
Social Impairment
Children with FASDs suffer from a number of problems that affect their ability to interact socially. They often do not consider the consequences of their actions and lack the appropriate responses to social cues, making it difficult for them to form reciprocal friendships. FASD children often withdraw socially, have sullen moods, and have periods of high anxiety and excessive unhappiness. These traits make it difficult for a child with an FASD to form satisfying or long-lasting relationships. Children with FASDs are also at a higher risk of developing aggressive or violent behaviors later in life and may be more prone to secondary problems, including criminal behavior, promiscuity, addiction, suicide and homelessness. These secondary problems develop during adolescence and may be identified by a pattern of juvenile delinquency, sexual acting out, school truancy or dropping out, and reactive outbursts.
Learning Disabilities
Children with FASDs often have intellectual disabilities or low IQs. They may experience difficulty in school, especially in math and in subjects that require abstract reasoning, have poor memory skills, and exhibit poor reasoning and judgment skills. It is believed that children with FASDs have difficulty achieving academic functioning beyond an early grade school level, even with remedial help at school.
Children with FASDs have symptoms that range from mild to severe, and there can be a range of additional complications for the child, including premature or stillborn delivery and cerebral palsy.