fetal alcohol effect

fetal alcohol effect A condition in which a child has some signs of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) but does not meet all of the necessary criteria for FAS and there is a history of alcohol exposure before birth. Abbreviated FAE. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has replaced the term FAE with the terms alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and alcoholrelated neurodevelopmental disabilities (ARND), which together with FAS make up the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). ARNDs and ARBDs can still have severe and lifelong consequences for the child, including mental retardation and facial malformation. See also fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; fetal alcohol syndrome.