Among the physical characteristics of FASD-affected people are a smoothing out of the ridges under the nose and a thin upper lip, especially if a mother drank in the early stages of pregnancy, Edwards said. But physical red flags can be absent if a mother drank late in pregnancy, which can leave degradation in the corpus callosum — the link between the right and left sides of the brain.
TJ, like many affected by FASD who didn't receive treatment, attempted suicide several times, and was eventually successful.
Doug Scherbarth, a Newport Beach resident, suspects the 13-year-old boy from CASA for whom he advocates may be a FASD child.With his suspicions further confirmed after Wednesday's meeting, he said he was directed to resources to get a diagnosis for the boy and get him into the right treatment program.
"You always hear mothers shouldn't drink during pregnancy, but I never knew all the ramifications of it," he said.
FASD symptoms that can sometimes act as red flags include an inability to measure, do a load of laundry, read street signs or count change.
"You guys got to make it happen," Edwards told the crowd. "Don't take no for an answer."
lauren.williams@latimes.com
Twitter: @lawilliams30
Symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD):
•Short palpebral fissures (eyelid openings)
•Smooth philtrum (the channel under the nose)
•Thin upper lip
•Repeats mistakes
•Emotionally volatile
•Lives only in the present
•Impulsive
•Doesn't understand "right and wrong"
•Would rather be "bad" than "stupid"
