American Academy of Pediatrics Outlines Considerations for Genetic Evaluation for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidance for pediatricians in a clinical report, “Genetic Evaluation of the Child With Intellectual Disability or Global Developmental Delay,” published in the July 2025 Pediatrics. The report, published online June 23, observes that establishing a genetic diagnosis early is critical because it determines the risk of developing certain diseases long before symptoms even appear. Neurodevelopmental disorders are the most common chronic medical condition in pediatrics, according to AAP. Genetic evaluation can inform the type of treatments the child may need, reduce further unnecessary diagnostic testing, and allow access to developmental therapies, services and support, the report states. Clinical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.