Children with FASD are often described as hyperactive, distractible, and impulsive, with short attention spans.21 ADHD is the most commonly reported mental health diagnosis in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure.1,22 The prevalence of ADHD (diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria) in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure is between 49.4% and 94%.1,22 Unfortunately, prevalence studies have included children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (variously defined), with and without a diagnosis of FASD, hence the wide prevalence range. However, the prevalence of ADHD in cohorts with FASD is consistently much higher than that in the general population. The proportion of children with a diagnosis of ADHD who also have FASD is not known and will be influenced by underdiagnosis of FASD. Underdiagnosis occurs due to a variety of factors, including health professionals’ reluctance to ask about alcohol exposure in pregnancy or to make a diagnosis due to lack of knowledge or fear of stigmatizing the child.23–25 The proportion of children with FAS diagnosed with ADHD increases with the level of alcohol exposure.1 Attention deficit in individuals with FASD is independent of IQ
