A new blood test will detect chromosomal variations that may be responsible for a child’s developmental delay or intellectual disability. Called the Affymetrix CystoScan Dx Assay, it can do a complete genetic analysis and detect both large and small chromosomal variations that are often responsible for these disabilities.
“This new tool may help in the identification of possible causes of a child’s developmental delay or intellectual disability, allowing health care providers and parents to intervene with appropriate care and support for the child,” said Alberto Gutierrez, Ph.D., direct of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health of the Food and Drug Administration. Approximately two to three percent of children in the United States have some form of intellectual disability, according to the National Institute of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Although genetic tests already exist to to detect conditions such as Down syndrome, they have to be ordered individually. The device cannot be used for prenatal testing, and will be used in conjunction with other clinical and diagnostic findings.
This is great news; the earlier a child with special needs can get intervention, the better the outcome. Easter Seals also offers a free online Developmental Milestones Screening parents can take, for kids ages 1 month to 5 years.
Of course, there’s nothing like a mother’s gut intuition, something nobody has patented just yet. If you sense something isn’t quite right with your child, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your pediatrician.
From my other blog:
How the new Disney disability card works: 9 tips for parents of kids with special needs
The people who help you see the progress
15 learning milestones that thrill parents of kids with special needs
Image of child getting blood test via Shutterstock.
