When should I get genetic counseling for genetic disorders?

Learn more from Peter Hulick, MD, MMSc, about when you should get genetic counseling for genetic disorders.

Transcript

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There tends to be a strong family history, strong being defined as many individuals diagnosed with a particular condition, or a very early onset that

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is atypical for whatever disease process we're talking about. [LIGHT GENTLE MUSIC]

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Genetic disorders-- so this is a difficult question to answer. Because, as you can imagine, the genes play a prominent role in many, many conditions.

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The key things that should trigger a consultation to the Genetics department are an unusual condition

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or unusual diagnosis that is particularly rare. These often will have a genetic basis. [LIGHT GENTLE MUSIC]

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There tends to be a strong family history, strong being defined as many individuals diagnosed

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with a particular condition, or a very early onset that is atypical for whatever disease process we're talking about.

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[LIGHT GENTLE MUSIC] The pediatric domain is a different domain, because there can be some targeted reasons in terms

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of developmental delay, autism, as well as physical findings in terms of limb abnormalities,

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congenital heart defects that may prompt a genetic diagnosis, or evaluation in the absence of a family history of such.

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