FASD Isn't in the DSM V - and That's a Big Problem
Jun 05, 2025Why So Many Kids Are Misdiagnosed and Misunderstood
You’ve taken your child to the doctor. To therapists. To neuropsych evaluations.
You’ve walked out with acronyms: ADHD. ODD. Mood Disorder. Autism Spectrum.
Maybe none of them feel quite right.
Maybe your gut says something deeper is going on.
If your child was exposed to alcohol or other substances before birth, you may be dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) — and yet no one is saying those four letters to you.
Here’s why:
FASD is not in the DSM-5.
Wait… What?
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the gold standard for diagnosing mental and behavioral health conditions in the U.S.
But FASD isn’t in there. Not even as an official diagnosis.
What is included is a small subcategory called:
Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE)
(listed in the DSM-5’s section for "Conditions for Further Study")
Translation: It’s acknowledged, but not recognized widely enough to be useful for most families. Many clinicians don’t know it exists. Most schools have never heard of it.
So parents are left with a patchwork of labels that don’t get to the root of the issue.
The real issue is a brain that was injured before birth.
The Consequences of a Missing Diagnosis
Because FASD isn’t formally listed, children affected by it often:
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Are misdiagnosed or diagnosed with multiple conditions
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Are seen as non-compliant instead of neurologically impaired
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Receive behavioral plans that backfire
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Face discipline instead of accommodations
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Miss out on services, funding, and appropriate education
Imagine needing glasses, but instead getting hearing aids.
That’s what it’s like to live with FASD in a world that doesn’t recognize it.
This Isn’t Just a Technicality. It’s a Crisis.
Research from FASCETS and other advocacy groups shows that:
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1 in 20 school-aged kids in the U.S. may have an FASD
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Most are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed
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Many have experienced multiple failed placements in foster care or school
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Rates of mental illness, addiction, and incarceration are higher in this population
And yet, without a DSM code or a clear pathway to diagnosis, most families are left navigating this alone.
My Family’s Story
As a parent, I know how tempting it is to blame yourself when nothing seems to work.
My children were prenatally exposed. I didn't know the full scope of how that would shape our lives—not just theirs, but mine too. I’ve spent years wondering why traditional parenting, therapy, or consequences weren’t working.
It wasn’t me. It wasn’t them.
It was FASD.
Once I started learning about brain-based parenting through FASCETS, everything shifted. I stopped punishing what they couldn’t control. I started accommodating. And I began forgiving myself for not knowing sooner.
What Parents Need to Know
If you suspect your child might have been affected by prenatal substance exposure:
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You are not alone.
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You are not crazy.
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You are not a bad parent.
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And your child is not “just being bad.”
You may be dealing with a real, lifelong, brain-based condition.
And there are tools that can help.
What We Can Do
The lack of a DSM code won’t stop us. Because we’re not just raising kids.
We’re raising awareness. Compassion. And a future that sees our children clearly.
At White Awake Parenting, I support caregivers who are parenting across race, trauma, and neurodivergence—including those navigating possible or confirmed FASD.
If the labels aren’t adding up… if the interventions aren’t working… if your child is constantly in trouble and you’re running on empty—this is your invitation to look deeper.
FASD may be invisible to the world.
But it’s not invisible to your heart.
Let’s get you and your child the support you both deserve. Book a free consultation.
Marion Van Namen
Founder, White Awake Parenting
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