Clinical Genetics

Beaumont Children's Hospital offers genetic evaluation and counseling to both children and adults who either have or may have a genetic condition. Common reasons for referral include having one or more of the following:

• Developmental delays, including autism/autistic spectrum disorder or cognitive impairment
• A suspected genetic condition based on either personal medical history and/or family history
• A known chromosomal abnormality
• One or more major birth defect(s)
• More than one minor physical variation
• Other known genetic conditions

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. The process includes:

• Collecting and interpreting family and medical histories to assess the chance of genetic disease
• Educating about inherited conditions
• Testing for, managing and preventing genetic diseases
• Researching various conditions
• Counseling to promote informed choices

Genetic counselors are health care professionals with specialized graduate degrees and have experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. They work with other members of the health care team to inform and support individuals and families concerned with genetic disorders or birth defects or those at risk for a variety of inherited conditions.

Genetic Evaluation

At Beaumont Children's Hospital Genetics Clinic, patients and families see a genetic counselor and a clinical geneticist (a medical doctor who specializes in genetics). During the initial appointment, personal and family medical histories are obtained, a physical examination is usually performed, and recommendations for testing and medical management are discussed. If tests or other evaluations have already been done, it is often helpful to have these records available to us; the family may either bring the records to the visit or have the records forwarded to us before the appointment. Visits generally last 80 minutes.

Location

The Beaumont Children's Hospital Genetics Clinic is located in the Pediatric Subspecialty clinic at Beaumont, Royal Oak, in the Medical Office Building, Suite 707. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 248-551-0487.

To learn more, visit About Beaumont Children's Hospital, Specialties and Services, and Patients and Families.