Identify & Diagnose

IDENTIFICATION & DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is the first step in creating a treatment plan for a child or adult with FASD. We travel to communities closest to client’s homes to make it easy for anyone to get the answers they need about themselves or their child’s condition. Our mobile, multidisciplinary teams provide assessment & diagnosis for children, youth and adult clients. Anyone can make a CONFIDENTIAL referral by contacting us.

FASD can be mild to severe, and drinking during pregnancy doesn’t always mean that a child will be affected depending on the quantity and timing. We offer full diagnostic services to anyone who believes they, their child or someone they know could have FASD.

ADULT TEAM

Our adult FASD team consists of a Diagnostic Coordinator, Psychiatrist, Addictions Worker, Career Counsellor, Neuropsychologist, PDD Rep, Adult Support Worker and Legal Representative. Assessment & Diagnostic Clinics for adults take place once a month.

CHILDREN'S TEAM

Our childrens' FASD team is a robust group of health professionals--Diagnostic Coordinator, Pediatrician, Social Worker, Nurse, Neuropsychologist, Family Support Worker, SLP, OT, and a Cultural Liaison and/or Mental Health Worker as required. Assessment & Diagnostic Clinics for children take place twice monthly.

COMPLEX YOUTH CLINIC

Complex Youth Clinic team members are chosen by the Clinic Coordinator and determined by a youth’s unique needs. Complex Youth Clinics happen based on the needs of youth clients. Contact us to learn more.

REFERRAL & CLINIC PROCESS

Individuals who have FASD will experience some degree of challenges with their daily living and will need support to reach their full potential. Receiving an FASD diagnostic assessment is the first step in creating an effective support plan. Our job is to gather & interpret the required information from the client and/or support network and present the information to the multidisciplinary diagnostic team on clinic day.

Here is what you can expect from the FASD diagnostic referral process:

Step One Referral

We require a completed LCFASD referral package before we can accept a client into the diagnostic program. The referral package includes a New Client Information Form and several consent forms, which allow us to request pertinent medical, educational, justice and child welfare documentation. This information is collected as it helps to best understand each individual’s needs, and identify the cause of their challenges.

In preparation for the individual to attend clinic, the coordinator must gather information about the timing, frequency, and quantity of alcohol exposure in utero. This information must be obtained from a reliable source, for example, the birth mother, child welfare documentation, birth records, etc.

Once the Information Package has been returned, the diagnostic coordinator & assistant will compile all necessary information.

  • Please call (780) 594-9905 so we can send you the referral package, and answer any questions you may have

Step Two Assessments 

  • Child

    For child clients, a Psychological Assessment, Speech/Language Pathology (SLP) Assessment, Occupational Therapy (OT) Assessment and Physician Interview will be scheduled prior to attending clinic.

    • A Caregiver and Teacher Psychological Evaluation Package (BASC3, ABAS-3 & BRIEF2) are completed and sent to the psychologist for review and scoring.

    Adult

    For adult clients, a full Neuropsychological Assessment will be scheduled prior to attending clinic

    When all client information is completed, reviewed, scored and processed, the file is ready to bring forward for assessment & diagnosis. A clinic date is then scheduled at a convenient location for the client and their family

Step Three Clinic Day

 

The diagnostic team is now ready to discuss the testing results. The team will interpret the client’s history and testing results and determine if the information meets the Canadian guidelines for FASD diagnosis. To receive an FASD diagnosis, there must be sufficient evidence of impairment in a minimum of three neurodevelopmental domains. The diagnostic team will create a 2-page medical report and a list of individualized recommendations, which will be reviewed with the client and his or her caregivers, if applicable.

People who are assessed for FASD will obtain one of the following designations in Canada:

FASD with Sentinel Facial Features

FASD without Sentinel Facial Features

At Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorder and FASD, Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.

No FASD Diagnosis

Each individual seen by the clinic team will be assigned an FASD Outreach Coordinator to help support them post clinic day.