Each person has their own abilities and strengths. They can include:

  • being well-spoken
  • artistic
  • being well-spoken
  • musical
  • athletic
  • friendly
  • generous
  • determined
  • caring with young children and animals

Below are common challenges that have been observed in people diagnosed with FASD.

  • Memory problems – trouble storing and retrieving information; often, they fill in the parts of a story they do not remember with made up information leading many people to believe they are lying
  • Inconsistent performance – understands something one day but not the next day, leading people to believe that the child is being difficult on purpose
  • Impulsive, distractible, disorganized – does and says things without thinking, has trouble finding things or planning and finishing a task
  • Difficulty following directions – can repeat instructions, but cannot put them into action
  • Literal thinkers – does not understand jokes or cannot use information learned in one situation in another situation
  • Struggles with abstract concepts such as math, money management, consequences, and time
  • Cognitive processing problems – may think more slowly and only understand every third word of a normally paced conversation
  • Developmental delay – may act younger than their chronological age
  • Poor judgement – inability to predict outcomes or understand consequences
  • Delayed motor skills – may have trouble with fine motor skills or with activities that require coordination
  • Poor social skills – problems making and keeping friends; cannot read body languag;, does not understand personal boundaries (Malbin, 2017)

Without a diagnosis and appropriate supports, people with FASD may experience further difficulties such as:

  • Difficulty with activities of daily living
  • Inability to control their frustration, which may result in aggression
  • Mental health concerns
  • Addictions and substance use issues
  • Disrupted school experiences
  • Difficulty holding a job
  • Trouble with the law
  • Homelessness (Government of Canada, 2018)

When diagnosed early and provided with the supports they need, individuals with FASD are resilient and thrive (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).