The limited use of genetic testing in adults is likely multifactorial. Essentially, all of the genetic epileptic encephalopathies have onset in childhood where the majority of research interest in diagnosis and treatment of these disorders exists. Unfortunately, this fails to acknowledge the undiagnosed adult patients who could benefit if afforded the same advances in treatment. For many of these conditions, early mortality has been the rule, thus many may consider testing low yield in older individuals. However, most of these conditions represent a phenotypic spectrum that is only now becoming more obvious as increasing numbers of individuals are diagnosed, thus we truly have no handle on the number of individuals with more favorable courses. Many adults with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities may no longer have strong advocates in the search for a diagnosis as they would have had as children, thus no voice to push for genetic testing. Finally, many question whether the outcome is altered in an adult who has suffered so many years with these conditions. This is a question that will remain unanswered if we don’t identify adults living with these disorders now. Ultimately, the goal of care should likely be to decrease the burden of disease for every individual with epilepsy and having a precise diagnosis to provide the most effective care would be the obvious path to consider.