A follow-up of Canadian adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Identifying long-term outcomes, treatment needs and access to services

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the leading known cause of developmental disability in Canada, yet little research has focused on follow-up and management post-diagnosis. Follow-up assessments were conducted with 44 Canadian adolescents with FASD, 11-18 years of age. Long-term outcomes, treatment needs and access to services were assessed using a battery of standardized parent- and youth-report questionnaires and a semi-structured interview conducted with primary caregivers. Results revealed that the majority of adolescents with FASD exhibited clinically significant difficulties with externalizing behaviour, attention, hyperactivity, social skills, executive functioning and adaptive functioning. Adolescents also displayed academic disengagement, problems with the law and inappropriate sexual behaviour. The most common type of intervention utilized at follow-up was psychopharmacotherapy. Eighty-six percent of affected youth had never received FASD-specific interventions or services. Despite significant treatment needs across multiple areas of functioning, remarkably little progress has been made regarding post-diagnostic support for this vulnerable population.