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. Request an appointment                                           There is a problem with                                 information submitted for this request. Review/update the                                 information highlighted below and resubmit the form.  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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                          Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise  on managing health. Click here for an email preview.           Email   ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address  Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data.  To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which                                 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. 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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 
severity fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms varies  children experiencing far greater degree others  signs symptoms fetal alcohol syndrome may include mix physical defects  intellectual cognitive disabilities  problems functioning coping daily life  physical defects physical defects may include:  distinctive facial features  including small eyes  exceptionally thin upper lip  short  upturned nose  smooth skin surface nose upper lip deformities joints  limbs fingers slow physical growth birth vision difficulties hearing problems small head circumference brain size heart defects problems kidneys bones  brain central nervous system problemsproblems brain central nervous system may include:  poor coordination balance intellectual disability  learning disorders delayed development poor memory trouble attention processing difficulty reasoning problem-solving difficulty identifying consequences choices poor judgment skills jitteriness hyperactivity rapidly changing moods  social behavioral issuesproblems functioning  coping interacting may include:  difficulty school trouble poor social skills trouble adapting change switching task problems behavior impulse control poor concept time problems staying task difficulty planning working goal  see doctorif you're pregnant can't drinking  ask obstetrician  primary care doctor mental health professional help  early diagnosis may help reduce risk long-term problems children fetal alcohol syndrome  let child's doctor know drank alcohol pregnant  don't wait problems arise seeking help  adopted child foster care  may know biological mother drank alcohol pregnant — may initially occur child may fetal alcohol syndrome  however  child problems learning behavior  talk doctor underlying cause identified  request appointment                                           problem                                 submitted request  review/update                                 highlighted resubmit form   mayo clinic inbox                          sign free  stay date research advancements  health tips current health topics  like covid-19  plus expertise  managing health  click here email preview            email   erroremail field required errorinclude valid email address  learn mayo clinic’s data   relevant helpful information  understand                                 beneficial  may combine email website usage                                 you  mayo clinic patient                                  include protected health information  combine protected                                 health information  will treat protected health                                 will only disclose set forth notice                                 privacy practices  may opt-out email communications time clicking                                 unsubscribe link e-mail    subscribe!     thank subscribing!  you'll soon start receiving latest mayo clinic health requested inbox     distinctive facial features  including small eyes  exceptionally thin upper lip  short  upturned nose  smooth skin surface nose upper lip deformities joints  limbs fingers slow physical growth birth vision difficulties hearing problems small head circumference brain size heart defects problems kidneys bones  brain central nervous system problemsproblems brain central nervous system may include:  poor coordination balance intellectual disability  learning disorders delayed development poor memory trouble attention processing difficulty reasoning problem-solving difficulty identifying consequences choices poor judgment skills jitteriness hyperactivity rapidly changing moods  social behavioral issuesproblems functioning  coping interacting may include:  difficulty school trouble poor social skills trouble adapting change switching task problems behavior impulse control poor concept time problems staying task difficulty planning working goal  see doctorif you're pregnant can't drinking  ask obstetrician  primary care doctor mental health professional help  early diagnosis may help reduce risk long-term problems children fetal alcohol syndrome  let child's doctor know drank alcohol pregnant  don't wait problems arise seeking help  adopted child foster care  may know biological mother drank alcohol pregnant — may initially occur child may fetal alcohol syndrome  however  child problems learning behavior  talk doctor underlying cause identified  request appointment                                           problem                                 submitted request  review/update                                 highlighted resubmit form   mayo clinic inbox                          sign free  stay date research advancements  health tips current health topics  like covid-19  plus expertise  managing health  click here email preview            email   erroremail field required errorinclude valid email address  learn mayo clinic’s data   relevant helpful information  understand                                 beneficial  may combine email website usage                                 you  mayo clinic patient                                  include protected health information  combine protected                                 health information  will treat protected health                                 will only disclose set forth notice                                 privacy practices  may opt-out email communications time clicking                                 unsubscribe link e-mail    subscribe!     thank subscribing!   distinctive facial features  including small eyes  exceptionally thin upper lip  short  upturned nose  smooth skin surface nose upper lip deformities joints  limbs fingers slow physical growth birth vision difficulties hearing problems small head circumference brain size heart defects problems kidneys bones  brain central nervous system problems problems brain central nervous system may include:  poor coordination balance intellectual disability  learning disorders delayed development poor memory trouble attention processing difficulty reasoning problem-solving difficulty identifying consequences choices poor judgment skills jitteriness hyperactivity rapidly changing moods  social behavioral issues problems functioning  coping interacting may include:  difficulty school trouble poor social skills trouble adapting change switching task problems behavior impulse control poor concept time problems staying task difficulty planning working goal 
fetal alcohol syndrome