The prevalence of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has been estimated to be:

• 1/100 newborns, with about 1/500 with the full blown Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• 4/500 with less severe effects referred to as partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)

However, a new evaluation of first grade students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota indicates these numbers may have been underestimated.

FASD is on a continuum from very mild effects, due to small amounts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, to very severe effects (FAS) from heavy maternal alcohol consumption. This new study looked at first graders with both cognitive and dysmorphologic testing and found pFAS to be present in 2.4% to 4.8% of students evaluated = ~1/35!

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