COGNITIVE DEFICITS IN NONRETARDED ADULTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

Persons with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) who are not mentally retarde d often have difficulty qualifying for special educational and vocatio nal services. In this pilot study, 16 nonretarded young adults with FA S were divided into two groups-one with average to above-average IQ an d one with borderline to low-average IQ. Participants in both groups m anifested clear deficits on neuropsychological measures sensitive to c omplex attention, verbal learning, and executive function. The frequen cy and severity of cognitive impairment demonstrated in both FAS group s were greater than what would have been predicted on the basis of IQ alone. The implications of these findings for identification and manag ement of cognitive impairment in individuals with FAS are discussed.