About
About FASD Compass
A free, UK-based guide to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) for parents, carers, teachers, health professionals and anyone who wants to understand the condition.
Every page draws on the two national guidance documents for FASD in the UK: SIGN 156 (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, 2019, revalidated 2022) and NICE Quality Standard QS204 (2022), a quality standard for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. SIGN currently notes that some of its recommendations may be out of date.
Why FASD Compass exists
FASD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in the UK, and many children with it go undiagnosed. Some are labelled with ADHD, autism, attachment difficulties or "bad behaviour" while the underlying cause is missed. Families wait years for answers. Schools use strategies designed for other conditions. Children miss out on support at the age when it helps most.
FASD Compass brings clear, accurate information together in one place. Parents learn what to ask for. Teachers get strategies to try in the classroom. Clinicians see when to refer and how assessment works.
FASD Compass brings clear, accurate information together in one place. Parents learn what to ask for. Teachers get strategies to try in the classroom. Clinicians see when to refer and how assessment works.
Who is behind it
FASD Compass was created by Dr Inyang Takon, a Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician, who leads its clinical content.
Dr Takon is a Consultant Paediatrician in the NHS and also works independently in private practice. She was a specialist expert on the NICE committee that developed the quality standard for FASD (QS204). She is a member of the FASD faculty at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and regularly teaches on its FASD masterclass. Locally, she teaches doctors, midwives and trainees about FASD.
She hosts Early Intervention Matters, a podcast for parents and professionals who live and work with neurodivergent children. Episodes include a conversation with art therapist and FASD specialist Antonia Rathbun Lindsey on why we're getting FASD behaviour wrong. You can watch episodes on her YouTube channel. She also writes for parents and carers on Substack. She is the founder of Braindiverse Academy, where she shares training and resources on FASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Dr Takon is a Consultant Paediatrician in the NHS and also works independently in private practice. She was a specialist expert on the NICE committee that developed the quality standard for FASD (QS204). She is a member of the FASD faculty at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and regularly teaches on its FASD masterclass. Locally, she teaches doctors, midwives and trainees about FASD.
She hosts Early Intervention Matters, a podcast for parents and professionals who live and work with neurodivergent children. Episodes include a conversation with art therapist and FASD specialist Antonia Rathbun Lindsey on why we're getting FASD behaviour wrong. You can watch episodes on her YouTube channel. She also writes for parents and carers on Substack. She is the founder of Braindiverse Academy, where she shares training and resources on FASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Who FASD Compass is for
- Parents, foster carers, kinship carers and adoptive families
- Teachers, SENCOs and other school staff
- GPs, health visitors, midwives, nurses, paediatricians and therapists
- Social workers and other professionals who work with children and families
- Children and young people with FASD
- Anyone who wants to learn more about FASD
How our content is written
- Content follows SIGN 156 and NICE QS204, supported by peer-reviewed research. References appear on each page.
- Dr Takon writes or reviews every page.
- Pages are reviewed at least once a year, and sooner when national guidance changes.
- We write in plain English and explain clinical terms when we use them.
- Where evidence is limited or experts disagree, we say so.
The language we use
We talk about alcohol in pregnancy without blame. Many pregnancies are unplanned. Many women drink before they know they are pregnant. Alcohol use in pregnancy is often linked to addiction, trauma or unclear advice. Blame stops families from asking for help, so FASD Compass aims to support every child and every family, including birth mothers.
FASD is a brain-based condition. Difficulties with memory, impulse control and understanding consequences come from how the brain processes information. Children with FASD also have real strengths, and we write about those too.
FASD is a brain-based condition. Difficulties with memory, impulse control and understanding consequences come from how the brain processes information. Children with FASD also have real strengths, and we write about those too.
What FASD Compass is not
FASD Compass provides education and information. It does not diagnose FASD, and it does not replace advice from a doctor or other qualified professional who knows your child.
The Developmental Concerns and Assessment Guide helps you record what you have noticed and prepare to talk to a professional. It is not a diagnosis or a validated screening tool, and it cannot confirm or rule out FASD.
FASD Compass AI answers general questions based on SIGN 156 and NICE QS204. It does not know your child, and you should not use it to make decisions about an individual child's care.
If you are worried a child is at risk of harm, contact your local children's social care team. In an emergency, call 999.
The Developmental Concerns and Assessment Guide helps you record what you have noticed and prepare to talk to a professional. It is not a diagnosis or a validated screening tool, and it cannot confirm or rule out FASD.
FASD Compass AI answers general questions based on SIGN 156 and NICE QS204. It does not know your child, and you should not use it to make decisions about an individual child's care.
If you are worried a child is at risk of harm, contact your local children's social care team. In an emergency, call 999.
Get in touch
FASD Compass is free to use and carries no advertising. We welcome feedback, corrections and ideas for new content. If something looks out of date or unclear, please tell us.
Email: eim@drtakon.com
We are unable to give advice about individual children by email. Please speak to your GP, health visitor or your child's school.
Email: eim@drtakon.com
We are unable to give advice about individual children by email. Please speak to your GP, health visitor or your child's school.
Page last updated: November 2026