FASD Assessment for Children and Young People
EPIC offers specialist consultant-led assessment for children, young people and young adults with suspected fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Our multidisciplinary team takes a thorough, individualised approach to understanding each person’s profile of strengths and difficulties across the ten domains of brain functioning recognised in FASD diagnosis.
What is FASD?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that can occur following exposure of the developing brain to alcohol during pregnancy. FASD can present with physical problems and/or problems with development, emotions, behaviour and learning. The presentation varies between individuals, but understanding an individual FASD profile of strengths and difficulties is essential to providing appropriate lifelong support.
How do we assess for FASD?
All assessments for FASD follow and are informed by the initial assessment with one of our consultants or senior clinicians. This will usually be with our paediatrician or specialist GP, to include a review of all in-utero risk factors, all areas of difficulty, past medical history, family and developmental history, and a physical examination. Our paediatrician or specialist GP will also review any previous professional reports that may contribute to the overall assessment. If the initial assessment was with one of our other consultants or senior clinicians, a 30-minute physical examination appointment will also be needed.
An individualised plan of further assessments is then made to ensure an understanding of strengths and difficulties across the ten domains of brain functioning: cognition, attention, executive functioning, language, motor skills, social skills and adaptive functioning, memory, affect regulation, academic attainment, and neuroanatomy or neurophysiology.
Information on the individual components and what to expect is available from our administration team on request.
What is the outcome?
EPIC’s multidisciplinary team (MDT) will review all assessment findings and agree whether the diagnostic criteria for FASD are met.
All of our assessments include a feedback appointment with the consultant or senior clinician to discuss the findings. Recognising and understanding FASD is important for providing appropriate support, adaptations and interventions where needed. A full written report with recommendations is provided.
How much does it cost?
- FASD assessment – £900 to £5,000, dependent on the number of brain domains requiring assessment and any previous assessment reports available
For families with an adoption, fostering or special guardianship background, FASD assessment may also be available through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund – see our ASGSF services page.
Please see our costs explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
FASD assessment is individualised across up to ten domains of brain functioning. The number of domains needing detailed assessment depends on the presentation, and previous reports from other professionals can sometimes reduce the assessment required. The full quotation will always be agreed in advance.
EPIC’s multidisciplinary team reviews all assessment findings collectively and agrees whether the diagnostic criteria for FASD are met. This gives the assessment process the rigour that a complex neurodevelopmental condition like FASD requires.
Previous professional reports are not required, but they are very helpful where they exist. Our paediatrician or specialist GP will review any reports you have, which may reduce the assessment scope and cost.
For adoptive parents, foster carers and special guardians, FASD assessment may be available through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. See our ASGSF services page for more about this funded route.
Every assessment includes a feedback appointment with the consultant or senior clinician to discuss the findings. You’ll also receive a full written report with personalised recommendations for support, adaptations and interventions, recognising that FASD is a lifelong condition.
Related Services
- Initial Assessments – the consultant-led first appointment that all our assessment pathways begin with
- ASGSF Services – funded multidisciplinary assessments for adoption, fostering and special guardianship families
- Neurodevelopmental Assessment – see all conditions we assess
- Costs Explained – what’s included in our pricing and why