Follow-up studies of children with fetal alcohol syndrome

Data coming from a prospective multidisciplinary study with repeated examinations of children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are reported. These patients underwent pediatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment, EEG-recordings and psychological testing. After a period of 3-4 years various subgroups of these children were re-examined. Follow-up examinations revealed that with increasing age dysmorphic signs became less apparent in children with FAS. Furthermore, neurologic performance improved and EEG-recordings revealed less pathological patterns. These positive findings were confirmed by the observation that these patients also experienced an improvement with regard to psychiatric status and cognitive functions. But it must be stated that the affected children did not become normal in all psychiatric areas. Hyperactivity and distractibility seem to be the major handicap for a normal school career of these children. In general biological maturation seems to be the main factor responsible for the outcome of FAS.