Cognitive Functioning
Individuals with FASD have various cognitive levels of functioning. Typically, IQ scores are lower than expected
based on inherited genetic potential. When individuals with FASD are re-tested on standardized IQ tests, they often have lower scores at older ages. Children who obtain low-average range scores in preschool may score in the below-average range by adulthood.
Cognitive problems include:
- Patterns of inefficiencies and deficits in functioning
- Slow mental processing
- Poor use of thinking and planning strategies
- Difficulty developing complex, abstract thinking and reasoning
- Deficits in executive functioning
- Difficulty linking two or more ideas together
- Understanding complex concepts
- Generalizing and understanding cause-and-effect
- Recognizing the consequences of their actions
- Demonstrating poor judgement
- Gullibility: being literal and concrete in their thinking
- Difficulty with planning and organization on physical and conceptual
- Problems keeping materials organized and managing time schedules
- Not meeting age-level expectations to effectively use complex cognitive strategies to accomplish multi-step tasks
based on inherited genetic potential. When individuals with FASD are re-tested on standardized IQ tests, they often have lower scores at older ages. Children who obtain low-average range scores in preschool may score in the below-average range by adulthood.
Cognitive problems include:
- Patterns of inefficiencies and deficits in functioning
- Slow mental processing
- Poor use of thinking and planning strategies
- Difficulty developing complex, abstract thinking and reasoning
- Deficits in executive functioning
- Difficulty linking two or more ideas together
- Understanding complex concepts
- Generalizing and understanding cause-and-effect
- Recognizing the consequences of their actions
- Demonstrating poor judgement
- Gullibility: being literal and concrete in their thinking
- Difficulty with planning and organization on physical and conceptual
- Problems keeping materials organized and managing time schedules
- Not meeting age-level expectations to effectively use complex cognitive strategies to accomplish multi-step tasks