The severity of fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms varies, with some children experiencing them to a far greater degree than others. Signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome may include any mix of physical defects, intellectual or cognitive disabilities, and problems functioning and coping with daily life. Physical defects Physical defects may include:

Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip
Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers
Slow physical growth before and after birth
Vision difficulties or hearing problems
Small head circumference and brain size
Heart defects and problems with kidneys and bones

Brain and central nervous system problemsProblems with the brain and central nervous system may include:

Poor coordination or balance
Intellectual disability, learning disorders and delayed development
Poor memory
Trouble with attention and with processing information
Difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving
Difficulty identifying consequences of choices
Poor judgment skills
Jitteriness or hyperactivity
Rapidly changing moods

Social and behavioral issuesProblems in functioning, coping and interacting with others may include:

Difficulty in school
Trouble getting along with others
Poor social skills
Trouble adapting to change or switching from one task to another
Problems with behavior and impulse control
Poor concept of time
Problems staying on task
Difficulty planning or working toward a goal

When to see a doctorIf you're pregnant and can't stop drinking, ask your obstetrician, primary care doctor or mental health professional for help.
Because early diagnosis may help reduce the risk of long-term problems for children with fetal alcohol syndrome, let your child's doctor know if you drank alcohol while you were pregnant. Don't wait for problems to arise before seeking help.
If you have adopted a child or are providing foster care, you may not know if the biological mother drank alcohol while pregnant — and it may not initially occur to you that your child may have fetal alcohol syndrome. However, if your child has problems with learning and behavior, talk with his or her doctor so that the underlying cause might be identified.
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Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip
Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers
Slow physical growth before and after birth
Vision difficulties or hearing problems
Small head circumference and brain size
Heart defects and problems with kidneys and bones

Brain and central nervous system problemsProblems with the brain and central nervous system may include:

Poor coordination or balance
Intellectual disability, learning disorders and delayed development
Poor memory
Trouble with attention and with processing information
Difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving
Difficulty identifying consequences of choices
Poor judgment skills
Jitteriness or hyperactivity
Rapidly changing moods

Social and behavioral issuesProblems in functioning, coping and interacting with others may include:

Difficulty in school
Trouble getting along with others
Poor social skills
Trouble adapting to change or switching from one task to another
Problems with behavior and impulse control
Poor concept of time
Problems staying on task
Difficulty planning or working toward a goal

When to see a doctorIf you're pregnant and can't stop drinking, ask your obstetrician, primary care doctor or mental health professional for help.
Because early diagnosis may help reduce the risk of long-term problems for children with fetal alcohol syndrome, let your child's doctor know if you drank alcohol while you were pregnant. Don't wait for problems to arise before seeking help.
If you have adopted a child or are providing foster care, you may not know if the biological mother drank alcohol while pregnant — and it may not initially occur to you that your child may have fetal alcohol syndrome. However, if your child has problems with learning and behavior, talk with his or her doctor so that the underlying cause might be identified.
Request an appointment







                 
            




There is a problem with
                                information submitted for this request. Review/update the
                                information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
                        
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                                information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with
                                other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could
                                include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected
                                health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health
                                information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of
                                privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on
                                the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.


Subscribe!




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Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip
Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers
Slow physical growth before and after birth
Vision difficulties or hearing problems
Small head circumference and brain size
Heart defects and problems with kidneys and bones
 Brain and central nervous system problems Problems with the brain and central nervous system may include: 
Poor coordination or balance
Intellectual disability, learning disorders and delayed development
Poor memory
Trouble with attention and with processing information
Difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving
Difficulty identifying consequences of choices
Poor judgment skills
Jitteriness or hyperactivity
Rapidly changing moods
 Social and behavioral issues Problems in functioning, coping and interacting with others may include: 
Difficulty in school
Trouble getting along with others
Poor social skills
Trouble adapting to change or switching from one task to another
Problems with behavior and impulse control
Poor concept of time
Problems staying on task
Difficulty planning or working toward a goal
