title: Genetic Evaluation of Children with Global Developmental Delay--Current Status of Network Systems in Taiwan.
abstract: This review article aims to introduce the screening and referral network of genetic evaluation for children with developmental delay in Taiwan. For these children, integrated systems provide services from the medical, educational, and social welfare sectors. All cities and counties in Taiwan have established a network for screening, detection, referral, evaluation, and intervention services. Increased awareness improves early detection and intervention. There remains a gap between supply and demand, especially with regard to financial resources and professional manpower. Genetic etiology has a major role in prenatal causes of developmental delay. A summary of reports on some related genetic disorders in the Taiwanese population is included in this review. Genetic diagnosis allows counseling with regard to recurrence risk and prevention. Networking with neonatal screening, laboratory diagnosis, genetic counseling, and orphan drugs logistics systems can provide effective treatment for patients. In Taiwan, several laboratories provide genetic tests for clinical diagnosis. Accessibility to advanced expensive tests such as gene chips or whole exome sequencing is limited because of funding problems; however, the service system in Taiwan can still operate in a relatively cost-effective manner. This experience in Taiwan may serve as a reference for other countries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yong-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Julie Chi
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Genetic Counseling Center, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Genetic Counseling Center, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan. Electronic address: shiojean@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shio-Jean
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: developmental delay; genetic evaluation; systems in Taiwan