When Does A Child Need Genetic Services?
If one or more of the following applies to a child you know, he or she might need genetic services. Please contact your local genetic service provider for more information about referrals or call 1-800-252-8023 for referral to a genetic service provider.
Genetic services
| Birth Defects |
Unusual Physical Features |
| Cataracts |
Ears |
| Cleft lip and/or cleft palate |
Ear pits or tags |
| Congenital heart disease |
Unusually shaped ears |
| Contractures |
|
| Diaphragmatic hernia |
Eyes |
| Genital malformations |
Different colored eyes |
| Glaucoma |
Down slanting eyes |
| Misshapen skull |
Epicanthal folds |
| Missing fingers or toes |
Up slanting eyes |
| Missing or incomplete limbs |
Wide-spaced eyes |
| Spina bifida |
|
| Other congenital anomalies |
Face |
| |
Facial asymmetry |
| |
|
| Chronic Disease |
Hair |
| Bleeding disorders |
Brittle or sparse hair |
| Childhood cancers |
Excessive body hair |
| Kidney or urinary tract disease |
White patch of hair |
| Slow growth or short stature |
|
| Cystic fibrosis |
Mouth |
| Degenerative disease |
Large or small tongue |
| Thalassemia |
Misshapen teeth |
| Other chronic disease |
Missing or extra teeth |
| |
Smooth philtrum |
| Developmental Problems |
Thin upper lip |
| Autism |
|
| Attention deficit/hyperactivity |
Skeletal |
| Developmental delay |
Loose joints |
| Failure to thrive |
Unusually tall or short stature |
| Learning disability |
Webbing between fingers or toes |
| Low muscle tone |
|
| Mental illness |
Skin |
| Mental retardation |
Excessive skin |
| Regression |
Increased or decreased sweating |
| Speech problems |
Many birthmarks |
| |
Any other unusual features |
| Sensory Deficits |
|
| Extreme farsightedness |
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| Extreme nearsightedness |
|
| Hearing loss |
|
When Does An Adult Need Genetic Services?Any of the following could indicate a need for genetic services. Please contact your local genetic service provider for more information about referrals or call 1-800-252-8023 for referral to a genetic service provider.
| Ethnic Background |
Family History |
| Jewish or French Canadian |
Acute intermittent porphyria |
| Afro-American or East Indian |
Auto immune diseases |
| Asian, Greek, or Italian |
Alzheimer’s disease |
| |
Birth defects |
| Medical History |
Blindness |
| Birth defects |
Cancer - especially breast or colon |
| Blindness |
Cleft lip or palate |
| Diabetes |
Congenital heart disease |
| Cancer |
Cystic fibrosis |
| Carrier status for inherited disorders |
Deafness |
| Degenerative diseases |
Degenerative disease |
| Hearing loss |
Down syndrome |
| Mental retardation |
Dwarfism |
| Mental illness |
Early onset (under 35) cancer |
| Other genetic disease ____________ |
Early onset (under 35) emphysema |
| |
Early onset (under 35) heart disease |
| Reproductive History |
Fragile X syndrome |
| Advanced paternal age (45 or older) |
Galactosemia |
| Advanced maternal age (34 or older) |
Hemophilia or bleeding disorder |
| Two or more miscarriages |
Huntington’s disease |
| Stillbirths |
Hydrocephalus |
| Previous children with birth defects |
Infant or childhood death |
| Previous children with learning delays |
Mental retardation |
| Unexplained infertility |
Muscular dystrophy |
| |
Phenylketonuria |
| Pregnancy Exposures Including:* |
Polycystic kidney disease |
| Alcohol |
Sickle cell trait |
| Cat litter box |
Spina bifida |
| Chemicals |
Tay-Sachs carrier |
| High fever |
Thalassemia trait |
| Infection |
Other genetic disease ____________ |
| Prescription and other medications |
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| Smoking |
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| Recreational drugs |
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| Pregnancy complicated by medical problems such as asthma, lupus, diabetes, seizures, etc. |
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*Call Teratogen Hotline (1-855-884-7248 ) for more information regarding exposures during current or post pregnancies.
Produced by the Texas Department of State Health Services
Genetic Services
www.dshs.state.tx.us/genetics/pubs.shtm