Could this be FASD, and where do I start in PEI?

Information reviewed September 2026. Assessment pathways, services and program rules can change, so use the linked official source when a current process matters.

When should a caregiver raise the question?

Talk with a health provider when there is known or possible prenatal alcohol exposure and the child shows persistent differences in learning, memory, attention, communication, motor skills, adaptive functioning, emotional regulation or daily living. The same concerns can also occur with other conditions, so assessment should not begin with the assumption that FASD is the only explanation.

What does a Canadian FASD assessment look at?

Current Canadian evidence-based guidance uses a multidisciplinary process. CanFASD's Identification, Assessment and Diagnosis Hub describes assessment across neurodevelopmental brain domains, together with facial features and confirmation of sufficient prenatal alcohol exposure where required by the diagnostic criteria.

CanFASD Identification, Assessment and Diagnosis Hub

Start with the child's PEI health provider.

In PEI, bring your concerns to the child's family doctor, nurse practitioner or other health provider. Health PEI's Pediatrician Outpatient Services requires a referral from a family doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care provider, and the pediatrician can connect with other services when appropriate.

Health PEI Pediatrician Outpatient Services

If the child's needs span several systems, use the Children with Complex Needs Navigator.

PEI's Children with Complex Needs Navigation Program can help eligible families find information, organize services, connect with providers and identify next steps around screening or testing. The navigator does not diagnose FASD, but can be useful when health, school, therapy and social-program needs are overlapping.

PEI Children with Complex Needs Navigation Program

What information should a kinship caregiver gather?

• Previous developmental, psychological, speech-language or occupational therapy assessments.
• School records, learning plans and examples of where the child succeeds or struggles.
• Medical history, medications, sleep concerns, hearing or vision information.
• Known prenatal history, when it is available lawfully and safely.
• Information from previous caregivers or professionals that may help explain development over time.
• A short list of your current concerns and the situations where the child functions best.

Do not make the birth parent prove or defend the pregnancy history in front of the child.

Information about prenatal alcohol exposure can be emotionally difficult and may be incomplete, especially in kinship care. Keep the assessment focused on obtaining accurate information without shaming the parent or making the child responsible for adult history.

A diagnosis can be useful, but support should not stop while you wait.

Canada's FASD guidance emphasizes early and appropriate support. If the child already struggles with memory, transitions, language, regulation or sensory overload, adults can begin adapting expectations and environments while assessment questions are being worked through.

Canada: FASD signs, symptoms and diagnosis

How do I explain a diagnosis to the child?

Use age-appropriate, strengths-based language. The goal is to give the child a useful explanation for how their brain works, not a label that predicts what they cannot do. CanFASD notes that there is no single "right age" and that children may experience relief, confusion, sadness or other emotions as they understand the diagnosis over time.