Web tools to screen children for effects of prenatal alcohol exposure
Assessment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Using Novel Web-Based Tools
This project uses online tools to check children ages 6–17 for physical, thinking, and behavior signs linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11369814 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're worried your child was exposed to alcohol before birth, these web tools let you or your child's clinician record physical and behavior information (FASD-Tree) and complete short online tasks that measure attention, memory, problem-solving, and processing speed (BRAIN-online). The tools are completed on the web and create reports to help clinicians decide if a full in-person evaluation is needed. Using online screening aims to shorten long wait times at specialty clinics and help more children get identified and connected to services sooner. The project focuses on children between about 6 and 17 years old who can complete brief online tasks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 6–17 with known or suspected prenatal alcohol exposure or with learning, attention, behavior, or developmental concerns are the most appropriate candidates.
Not a fit: Infants under age 6, adults, or children whose problems are clearly unrelated to prenatal alcohol exposure (or who cannot complete web tasks) are unlikely to benefit from these specific tools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could speed up identification of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and help them access diagnosis and services earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Clinic-based screening and neurobehavioral tests have been used to identify FASD, but moving these measures to web-based versions is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mattson Weller, Sarah N — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Mattson Weller, Sarah N
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.