d births" (Seachrist, 1995, p. 314).
             According to many physicians it is the leading cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States today (National Organization on FAS, 2000). Douglas A. Milligan states that, "FAS is the single greatest cause of mental retardation in the U.S. today" (as cited in Seachrist, 1995, p. 314). This condition results from the toxic effect of alcohol and its chemical factors on the developing fetus and its brain. The alcohol enters the bloodstream though the placenta and then the damage begins to occur. FAS consists of a characteristic pattern of abnormalities resulting from the exposure that the fetus has had with alcohol during early development.
             There is a major obstacle that causes difficulty in the diagnosis of this disorder. Its main diagnosis hinges on the obvious facial abnormalities, short stature, and low IQ. Children who do not meet all of these factors are diagnosed with FAE, Fetal Alcohol Effect, a milder form of FAS. Less than 10 percent of US medical schools require their students to complete a course relating to the proper diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect, therefore it is widely misdiagnosed and under diagnosed (National Organization on FAS, 1996).
             Physical Characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
             There are general abnormalities that affect both forms of the disease. These abnormalities include a deficiency in growth and a pattern of malformation affecting the face, heart, and urinary tract. Ann Streissguth, a leading researcher on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, states that FAS is characterized by
             A pattern of dysmorphic facial features... including 1) short eye openings; 2) a short, upturned nose; 3) smooth area between the nose and mouth; and 4) a flat mid-face and thin upper lip. The facial patterns made FAS patients recognizable although not grossly malformed. In addition, these patients can display other physic...