Children adopted from Poland display a high risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders and some may go undiagnosed

Abstract

Aim: Children adopted from Central and Eastern Europe often have negative early experiences, including prenatal exposure to alcohol. We examined a group of Polish children, adopted by Dutch parents, to see how many were diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and to what extent features of FASD were present. Methods: The 121 children, aged between six and 17 years, were adopted from Poland at a mean age of three years (SD = 1.6 years). Their parents answered a questionnaire regarding FASD diagnosis, growth, educational attainment and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Results: Three groups were identified: children with an FASD diagnosis (31%), children whose adoptive parents suspected FASD (21%) and children whose adoptive parents did not suspect FASD (49%). Growth deficiency, enrolment in special education and difficulties with executive functioning were most frequently observed in children diagnosed with FASD. However, features of FASD were also observed in the other two groups. Conclusion: Children adopted from Poland showed a high risk of FASD and some children may go undiagnosed. Adoptive parents and professionals need to be aware of the potential consequences of prenatal exposure to alcohol.