Information
|
Age Comparison Table |
Developing Baby
|
Secondary Disabilities
|
FAQ's
Diagnosis vs. Labeling
One question we continually hear is "should
we diagnosis an individual with an alcohol-related
birth defect or
does that just label the
person unnecessarily?" Clearly there is a difference
between "labeling"
and "diagnosing."
Webster's defines label as: An object
serving as a means of identification; a descriptive
term. Diagnosis is defined
as: The
act or process of
identifying or determining the nature of a disease by
examination--a
critical analysis.
The state believes that an accurate diagnosis
of all medical conditions
is critical to understanding the condition, the root
cause of the condition,
what type of services, interventions or treatment are
needed to improve
outcomes and to increase our knowledge and ability to
develop strategies
for prevention.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) is a medical diagnosis
of a permanent
birth defect syndrome caused by maternal consumption
of alcohol during
pregnancy. For those individuals with alcohol-related
birth defects that do
not meet the FASD diagnosis, there are a number of other
specific diag-
noses that provide a clear understanding of the condition
and its cause.
These are not labels, these are diagnoses. Accuracy in
diagnosing disabili
ties related to prenatal exposure to alcohol will provide
us with the ability
to improve our services, better understand the needs
of the individual
with these disabilities, accuracy in data about the extent
of this problem
in our state and to promote an active and focused effort
to prevent the
birth of children with disabilities related to maternal
drinking during
pregnancy. Accurate diagnosis is the critical core of
our state's ongoing
FASD efforts.
In the words of Dr. Ann Streissguth: "Diagnosis
provides visibility, and
visibility prompts solutions.
Posted Summer 2001