Most children thrive in their adoptive families. But others experience problems with learning, behavior, attention or attachment.
A child facing these challenges may need further assessment as he or she grows. Often, known or unknown exposures to drugs or alcohol before birth may be causing or contributing to a child’s difficulties.
That is why some families may need to consider a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) evaluation, which includes a thorough medical, developmental and neuropsychological assessment.
We asked Adoption Medicine Physician Judith Eckerle, MD, director of the University of Minnesota Health Adoption Medicine Clinic, for four reasons why some parents should consider an FASD evaluation. The Adoption Medicine Clinic is a designated specialized assessment clinic as part of a national multi-site study with the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (CIFASD).