Evidence linking multiple maternal traits to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is substantial (Abel and Hannigan, 1995; May and Gossage, 2011). However, much of the evidence links only summary measures of alcohol consumption (e.g., mothers drank/did not drink or binged occasionally) to outcomes often limited to particular behavioral traits such as IQ, attention, and memory (Bailey et al., 2005; Nulman et al., 2004; Sayal et al., 2009). Also, summary drinking measures are infrequently linked to specific diagnoses within the FASD continuum, only to “FASD.” Utilizing specific diagnoses combines physical dsymorphology and cognitive/behavioral traits for a more complete outcome indicator. Overall, more empirical evidence is needed to clarify and define the quantity, frequency, and timing (QFT) of alcohol usage that produce risk for a specific diagnosis within FASD.
