Birth Defects
Birth defects are structural alterations that can damage practically any body part (heart, brain, foot, etc.) that happens at birth. They may alter how the body appears, functions, or both. There are many degrees of birth malformations. The organ or body part that is affected and how much is mostly what determines how well each child with a birth defect will do. The degree of the Birth Defect and the body part affected May or may not have an impact on the estimated lifespan of the affected person.
The majority of birth abnormalities are identified within the first year. Some birth deformities, like cleft lips, are obvious, but others, like heart defects or hearing loss, require specialized testing, such as x-rays, hearing tests, or echocardiograms, which are ultrasound scans of the heart.