2025-05-23

Norwegian guideline for diagnosing FASD - now in English

In 2024 the Regional Competence center for children with prenatal alcohol and/or drug exposure, RK-MR HSØ, published the first Norwegian guideline for diagnosing FASD.

The purpose of the guideline is to ensure that children and adolescents aged 0-18 with suspected FASD receive an evidence-based multidisciplinary assessment at a specialist level, regardless of geographical location or assessment site.

The guidelines provide recommendations based on research evidence and expert consensus for the diagnostic assessment of children and adolescents up to the age of 18 with clinical presentations associated with FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Evidence-based recommendations for the assessment of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are included.

Consensus-based recommendations are also provided regarding the diagnosis of FAS (as a medical diagnosis) and the diagnostic assessment and description of FASD (as a clinical symptom complex).

The RK-MR HSØ was established by the South-Eastern Health Region in November 2015. The service works to gather, systematize, and disseminate knowledge about the diagnosis, assessment, and follow-up of children and adolescents exposed to alcohol and/or illicit substances during pregnancy. Gro Christine Christensen Løhaugen, Neuropsychologist PhD is the Head of RK-MR HSØ.

The guideline is available in Norwegian and in English.