After examining your child, some doctors might choose to "wait
and see" how your child grows between office visits. But even as you watch for signs
of growth, there are things you and your doctor can do today to get a clearer diagnosis
about your child's potential to grow.
- Your doctor can carefully measure your child's height and compare it to other records.
By bringing medical files from another primary care doctor, or from school or sports
records, or even your own measurements of your child's height, you may help your
doctor reach a faster conclusion. Height information about other members of your
family is also important. If you want to do more than wait and see if your child
grows, you might ask your doctor, "Is there any way to know for sure?"
- Your primary care doctor may refer you to a pediatric endocrinologist, who may order
x-rays and blood and urine tests to rule out other disorders that could affect growth.
Blood tests are one way to see if your child's body is producing enough growth hormone
to support healthy growth.
Get a list of important questions to ask your child's
primary care doctor.