FASD

[LondonDadToBe]

Hi all - we're linked with a child and hoping for matching panel soon (though we're delayed because of the Somerset judgment issues...). Our prospective little boy has just turned 2. He had pretty poor birth circumstances with some deprivation of blood and oxygen to the brain that caused him to be in hospital for quite a while after birth. BM used drugs (cannabis and cocaine so far as we know) during pregnancy. While we don't know about alcohol, we are assuming she also used alcohol.

The little boy has a full sibling who is slightly older and has a diagnosis of FASD based on facial features, but for this little boy, there seem to be very few indications of FASD at this stage.

But I wondered what we might need to be looking out for in a 2 year old to identify whether he might have FASD to ensure he gets early support?

I've looked online but couldn't find anything that indicates what we might look for at age 2, versus 4 or 6 etc. All of the general info talks about low weight or head size (he's above average in terms of size, weight, head size) and is generally really sociable, smiley, very active, sleeps and eats well. He had some gross motor delay which seems to have resolved following some physio, some speech delay which is subject to a referral and meeting milestones on fine motor skills.

So he seems to be doing really well - but we want to be sure we can be alert to anything that might need early support or attention - so any thoughts welcome? I know this might be not be an easy answer since there probably

Our boy is 2 almost 3 and has potential fasd, with no facial features. There isn't a lot you can determine / diagnose this early sadly.

He seems to be behind a little in speech but is quickly catching up with us talking and reading to him. FC didn't do much with him

Thanks claireb7rg - our potential LO's foster carer seems to be really good with him - really encouraging his love of music and dancing, and putting him in nursery for a bit each week to develop. But I also get the feeling that he has her wrapped around his finger a bit, so when he wants something he doesn't need to use his words to get it. But it's clear to us how much she loves him.

I think I'm just worrying about how to strike the right balance between being ready to get him the support he needs if he needs it, but also not being so anxious that I am overinterpreting every little delay or behavioural issue.

Sadly early diagnosis is really really problematic. My dd2 has was born addicted and later was diagnosed with FASD - she has no facial features though and low muscle tone is the only real 'obvious' symptom for which she has physio. What she does have is a seizure disorder caused by damage prior to and at birth - she was over 2 by the time we all realised what was happening. Her seizures are not always noticeable, at other times they are huge tonic clonic ones that looks like a stereotypical seizure.
On the flip side she has no major developmental delays, speaks well and after physio her issues with muscle tone are rarely noticeable. She was placed in my care at birth and there were no early indications this would develop - unfortunately the effects of FASD really are that unpredictable.

FASD is only a tiny part of who my dd is though and she's wonderful

The best advice I can give is stay vigilant but don't allow your natural worries to overshadow who he is.

You will really benefit your child if you dig in heels and push social workers to find evidence that birth mum drank in pregnancy.
It will make getting a diagnosis that much easier.
Have you looked at claiming DLA.