ABSTRACT
Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is recognised as the leading, preventable, nongenetic cause of intellectual impairment. The teratogenic effects of alcohol produce outcomes that range in severity from full FAS through to milder or less complete forms. ‘Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders is an umbrella term now being used frequently to cover all the foetal effects of alcohol: > foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (a defined group of physical features) with
confirmed maternal alcohol exposure > foetal alcohol spectrum disorder without confirmed maternal alcohol exposure v partial foetal alcohol spectrum (not all the physical features of the syndrome)
disorder with confirmed maternal alcohol exposure > alcohol-related birth defects of heart, bone, kidney > alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder without characteristic physical
features.
