Talk to your Doctor, Pediatrician or General Practitioner
If you are concerned about your child’s growth, don’t hesitate to speak with an HCP. They will be able to complete some measurements and investigate further if needed, potentially referring you on to a specialist. Here we can help you plan for both conversations.
Visiting your child’s pediatrician or GP may feel daunting, but it can help to be prepared ahead of your appointment. To help you stay equipped in these situations, take a look at the below discussion guide for you to use when visiting your child’s doctor.
General Preparation
Talking to a doctor is an important first step to take in order to understand if there is a problem with growth. Use this guide to initiate a discussion with your child’s doctor and keep track of the questions you want to ask them. You can write in the answers you receive and take notes for future visits.
- What height and weight percentile does my child fall into?
- Do my child’s measurements suggest there’s a problem with their growth?
- Has my child’s height and weight percentile changed since the last visit?
- What should my child’s annual growth rate be?
- What is my child’s mid-parental height and are they on track to reach it?
- Does my child need to see a specialist?
- What are the next steps?
Speak to A Growth Specialist:
If you are referred to a child growth specialist or pediatric endocrinologist, here are some practical questions and resources to help plan for your visit.
If your child has to visit a specialist, it is important that you understand as much as possible about your child’s potential diagnosis. Here are some practical questions you may want to ask the specialist. You can write in the answers you receive and take notes for future visits.
- What tests need to be done to confirm if my child has a growth problem?
- What has my child been diagnosed with?
- How long will my child have this condition?
- What will the impact of this condition be on my child’s life?
- Will my child need treatment and what will the treatment involve?
- What can I do to help manage my child’s condition?
Understanding the terminology
When visiting your child’s doctor they may talk about measuring your child’s growth using a few different terms. Take a look at the below list to help feel prepared.
- Percentiles: Percentiles are often found on growth charts and indicate how your child’s height and weight compares with the average child for their age group and sex.
- Growth Velocity: A child’s annual growth rate is often referred to as growth velocity. The doctor will most likely look at the change in your child’s height from year to year and see if he or she is growing as expected for their age group.
- Bone Age X-Ray: By taking a simple X-ray of your child’s left hand and wrist, a radiologist can see if your child’s bone age matches their age.
- Mid-Parental Target Height: This is a method used to estimate the target height of a child based on both parents’ heights. This helps the doctor evaluate whether your child is growing at the expected rate.
- Head Circumference: A routine measure in children up to three to four years of age ‒ as this is a period of rapid brain growth. This helps ensure that your child is growing proportionally and that their brain is growing properly.
