Martyn Symons is a paediatrician based in Perth, WA, Australia (in Perth). He looks after children and helps families manage the ups and downs that can come with long-term health and learning needs.
His work includes supporting children who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS can affect more than one part of a child’s life, not just how they look or grow. It may show up in areas like development, behaviour, learning, and day-to-day functioning at home and at school. In many cases, early and steady support makes a real difference for both the child and the people caring for them.
When a child is seen for FAS-related concerns, the goal is usually clear and practical: understand what’s going on, spot patterns early, and help build a plan that fits the child’s needs. This might include talking through growth and development, discussing typical challenges to expect, and working out what support could help most right now. Families often have lots of questions, and it helps to get clear answers in plain language, not medical jargon.
Paediatric care can also mean working through other child health issues alongside FAS. Sometimes symptoms look similar across different conditions. So having a paediatric approach is useful when it comes to checking things properly and making sure nothing important is missed. Over time, the care can focus on building routines, supporting learning, and helping the child feel more settled in everyday life.
Martyn’s paediatric training supports him in understanding how children change as they grow. Children are not all the same, even when they share a diagnosis. That’s why care often needs to be flexible, with follow-ups that reflect what’s working and what isn’t.
He also keeps up with current care ideas and research around FAS, so the support stays grounded in what’s known and what tends to help. The aim is calm, realistic guidance, with a plan that families can actually use.