List of Birth Defects

Results from our 2024 Registry report provides data on the most frequently reported birth defects.  This lists the structural and functional birth defects reported to the registry by frequency. Of course, the functional problems far outnumber the structural birth defects.

Since May of 2024, parents have completed 5729 questionnaires with case reports for 6588 children (more than one child in a family can be reported on a questionnaire) in the on-­‐line National Birth Defect Registry. We have reports for 3397 males, 3173 females and 18 cases where the sex was not entered.

What are the most common functional birth defects?

The most common functional birth defects reported include allergies (1,547 cases), motor skills delay (1,329), speech issues (1,154), reflux/GERD (1,131), and depression (1,114). Functional disorders like these significantly outnumbered structural defects in the 2024 registry data from 6,588 children.

Structural birth defects involve physical abnormalities in body parts (e.g., cleft palate, heart defects), while functional defects affect body systems (e.g., neurological, metabolic). Structural defects often appear at birth; functional issues may emerge later. Both can result from genetic and environmental factors.

See our full report for details

How was the registry developed?

A presentation was made to the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences that describes the development of the registry.

How is the registry data used?

National Birth Defect Registry data has been used to evaluate several national birth defect issues.