A child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has a high risk of psychiatric problems that may resemble those caused by ADHD. In fact, according to a July 17 HealthDay News article, a Canadian study has noted that FASD and ADHD present with such similarity that children are sometimes misdiagnosed:

"Behaviorally, FASD and ADHD can look quite similar, particularly with respect to problems with very limited attention, physical restlessness and extreme impulsivity," study author Rachel Greenbaum, a clinical psychologist with the Children's Mental Health Team at Surrey Place Centre in Toronto, Canada, said in a news release.

The study of 33 children with FASD, 30 children with ADHD and 34 children without disorders focused on their social cognition and emotion-processing abilities. Social cognition is the ability to consider and differentiate between the beliefs, thoughts, feelings and intentions of oneself and others. Emotion processing is the ability to understand and process information related to feelings.

Labels: diagnosis, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Posted By: Aspen/CRC