Birth Defects : What we know

People define “birth defects” in different ways, and recognize different types of birth defects.

Structural defects present at birth that result in a physical disability or death are birth defects by anyone’s definition. Structural birth defects affect the formation of parts of the body, and include cleft palate (a split in the roof of the mouth), spina bifida (a defect in the neural tube that allows part of the spinal cord to protrude from the spine), certain heart defects, and missing arms or legs, to give just a few examples.

Functional defects are considered by some, but not all, to be birth defects. They may be considered birth defects if they result from untoward events that occur during fetal development. Functional defects can affect the nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, endocrine system, or other systems of the body, and may not become apparent for months or years.

These may include, for example, mental retardation, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some types of blindness and deafness, some immunological problems, and some degenerative disorders.