A:
The difference between Fetal Alcohol Exposure
(FAE) and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is that children with FAE
often look normal and have normal IQ's but have very poor behavior,
subtle and multiple learning disabilities, weaknesses in attention,
memory, judgment, and difficulties primarily in verbal reasoning/auditory
processing. These kids often look "normal" on superficial
exam and tend to go unnoticed by the schools. It is hard to get
the child the special services they may require to function adequately
in school. However, if you have a FAS or FAE diagnosis from a
qualified physician, the schools must provide the services, no
matter how good the child may look otherwise. This is very important
in these days of inadequate funding for special education.
