Assessing the Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the UK

In a new study, led by a team at the University of Salford, evidence has been found to suggest fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant issue among the population, likely to be as common as autism, despite being rarely diagnosed.

The project, which investigated the number of primary school children affected by FASD in Greater Manchester, is the first of its kind in the UK.

Working with 8- and 9-year-olds and their families, researchers found that 1.8% of children taking part had FASD. This increased to 3.6% when including children who possibly had FASD.

Crucially, none of these children had previously been diagnosed with a developmental condition, and therefore were not able to access additional health and educational support to help them fulfill their potential.