PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Koren, Gideon
TI  - Adopted children from the former Soviet Union
DP  - 2013 Oct 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - 1063--1064
VI  - 59
IP  - 10
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/59/10/1063.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/59/10/1063.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2013 Oct 01; 59
AB  - Question One of the families in my practice is considering adoption of a 2-year-old child from the former Soviet Union. The family has been reassured by the agency that a doctor will examine the child to rule out developmental delays. However, my understanding from your previous articles is that one cannot rule out fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) at that age. Are these children at increased risk of developing FASD? Answer You are correct: FASD cannot be ruled out at 2 years of age. The risk of FASD, neglect, and abuse among children in orphanages in the former Soviet Union is high. While adoption of children with known developmental delays should be encouraged and supported, most families seek to adopt with the assumption that these children will be healthy.