Pediatric and Adult Genetic Counseling
Understanding how family history affects your child
Many types of diseases are passed down the family line. If you suspect you or your child is at risk for a hereditary condition, genetic counseling can help you cope.
Services may include:
- thorough evaluation of personal and family medical history
- detailed physical examination by a geneticist, a trained physician specializing in genetics
- risk assessment for hereditary diseases
- genetic testing, when appropriate.
Is genetic counseling right for me?
Approximately 3 to 5 percent of all babies are born with a birth defect or health problem. These conditions may be evident just after a baby is born, later during a child's life, or not until adulthood.
Potential reasons for pediatric and adult genetic counseling and evaluation by a geneticist include:
- birth defect, or suspected birth defect
- suspected or diagnosed genetic condition
- chromosome condition
- metabolic disease
- developmental delay and/or cognitive impairment
- family history of a genetic condition
- strong family history of an adult onset condition
- certain mental illnesses including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
If you think genetic counseling is right for you, talk to your primary care doctor about a referral to the Affinity Genetic Counseling program.
