Stability of intelligence in the fetal alcohol syndrome: a preliminary report.

A clinical sample of 17 patients with fetal alcohol syndrome was given follow-up IQ testing 1-4 yr after an initial evaluation. Although 77% of the patients had a retest IQ that was within 1 SD of their initial IQ, some individual children did manifest considerable change in scores on retest. Repeated psychologic evaluation at regular intervals is recommended for children with fetal alcohol syndrome so that appropriate educational programming can be maintained in order to promote maximum development in each child.