The Role of Allied Health in FASD Support
Allied health professionals play a vital role in supporting individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) across the lifespan. From early childhood through to adult services, they bring specialised skills that help individuals with FASD reach their full potential.
They contribute to:
- Multidisciplinary assessment and diagnosis
- Delivery of evidence-based therapeutic intervention
- Family and caregiver education and support
- Collaboration with schools, justice, and community services
- Advocacy and prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure
Individuals with FASD often require support in areas such as motor skills, physical health, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social relationships. Allied health professionals are well-positioned to address these needs through holistic, trauma-informed, and family-centred approaches.
Further detail about the role of each allied health discipline, including speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work, is provided below.
Key Resources for Allied Health Professionals
- 30 Evidence based FASD Fact for Health Professionals – 30-Evidence-based-FASD-Facts-for-Health-Professionals.pdf
- Parent Panel: Voices of parents and carers for health professionals – How can we help each other?
- What I wish Health Professionals knew about FASD.
Discipline-Specific Roles and Contributions
Speech Pathologists and FASD
Speech pathologists support individuals with communication difficulties across areas such as:
- Speech and language development
- Social communication and pragmatics
- Literacy and learning
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
- Swallowing and feeding safety
In the context of FASD, speech pathologists may:
- Conduct assessments to inform diagnosis
- Provide therapy to support expressive and receptive language
- Collaborate with families and schools
- Advocate for communication needs across settings
Key Resources for Speech Pathologists:
Occupational Therapists and FASD
Occupational therapists (OTs) support individuals across the lifespan to participate in everyday activities. Their work addresses areas such as:
- Sensory processing differences
- Motor skill development
- Emotional regulation and self-care
- School participation and routine-based functioning
- Community integration and independence
In the context of FASD, occupational therapists may:
- Contribute to multidisciplinary assessments
- Deliver strategies to enhance sensory and motor integration
- Support the development of routines and daily life skills
- Work collaboratively with families, schools, and services
They are also well-positioned to advocate for inclusive practices that promote engagement and functional independence.
Key Resources for Occupational Therapists:
- Occupational Therapists and FASD
- Poster presentation on The Role of the Occupational Therapist in Diagnosis, Intervention and Education about the Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) on Children and Young People – click here
- A webinar recording for OTs about FASD – click here
- How Occupational therapy can help people with FASD – Click here
Social Workers and FASD
Social workers support individuals with FASD and their families across diverse settings such as:
- FASD diagnostic clinics
- Out-of-home care and child protection
- Mental health services
- Family support and parenting programs
- Youth justice and housing services
In the context of FASD, social workers may:
- Identify families at risk of or affected by FASD
- Provide case coordination and advocacy
- Address systemic barriers to support
- Promote trauma-informed, culturally safe practice
Key Resource for Social Workers:
- Social Workers and FASD
- FASD Hub’s webinar “A critical link: The role of Social Workers in supporting children and families towards and beyond a FASD diagnosis’ – click here
Psychologists and FASD
Psychologists support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of individuals with FASD. This may include:
- Emotional regulation and behaviour support
- Attention, sensory processing, and concentration strategies
- Developing social skills and resilience
- Supporting learning through tailored strategies
In the context of FASD, psychologists may:
- Contribute to diagnosis through cognitive and psychological assessment
- Identify strengths and support needs
- Provide recommendations to families, schools, and other professionals
- Deliver interventions to build capacity and improve wellbeing
Key Resource for Psychologists:
Collaborative Practice and Referral Pathways
Working collaboratively across allied health disciplines ensures that individuals with FASD receive consistent, coordinated care. NOFASD encourages cross-sector communication to:
- Build wraparound support systems
- Share knowledge and perspectives
- Reduce delays in diagnosis and service access
Connecting with Health Professionals
- Find Health Professionals and services with FASD experience and expertise. Appointments can only be booked directly with the provider. Click here