Genetic Counseling

This entry explores genetic counseling services: what they are and how they may be of use to deaf people, but also the ambivalence and concern with which they are viewed by some within the Deaf community and the underlying reasons for these concerns.

Genetic counseling is a service for individuals or families who have questions or worries about a condition within their personal or family history that may be genetic. They may be self-referred or referred by a health care professional. The genetic counseling professional that they meet may be a doctor or other health care professional such as a genetic counselor or nurse with special training in genetics. Genetic counseling is a process that involves gathering family history information from the individual attending; discussing relevant ...