Who Should be Offered Genetic Consultation and Counseling?

Individuals or families are often referred for genetic consultation and counseling by a family doctor, a specialist or during a hospital stay. Reasons for referral may include:

When a child or individual has:

• one or more birth defects
• atypical growth
• developmental or mental delays
• a known or suspected genetic or chromosomal condition

When a couple has:

• concern about medications, drugs or chemical exposure during pregnancy
• an ethnic background associated with a genetic disease
• shared relatives

When there is a family history of:

• birth defects
• mental retardation or certain neurological disorders
• cancer
• a particular condition such as fragile X syndrome or Marfan syndrome

[Keywords:Genetic counseling, birth defects, atypical growth, developmental or mental delays, genetic or chromosomal condition, medications, drugs or chemical exposure, genetic disease, shared relatives, mental retardation, neurological disorders, cancer, fragile X syndrome, Marfan syndrome]

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