What can my child's primary care doctor do to help?
Your child's primary care doctor can examine your child to find the cause of his
or her slow growth. Based on what the doctor finds out, there may be treatment options
that have proven to be very effective in helping children reach normal heights.
Learn more about how your child's doctor can help.
What can my child's doctor do to diagnose slow growth?
Your child's doctor may look at your family history, your child's height over time,
and your child's medical history. Based on what is found, you might be asked to
"wait and see" if your child begins to catch up to others the same age. Or your
child might be sent to a pediatric endocrinologist for further testing. Find out
how you can prepare for your doctor's visit.
What if my child's doctor recommends "waiting and seeing" before diagnosing
and treating my child?
Your doctor might want to "wait and see" if your child starts to grow on his or
her own. That may be fine for many children, but not if your child can not grow
normally for medical reasons. Waiting too long to diagnose and treat the problem
can make it hard to get the best results. There are tests your doctor or a specialist
can do to find out if "waiting and seeing" is the right approach. Find out if waiting and seeing is right for you.
How do I talk to my child's doctor about my concerns?
It's a good idea to prepare for your visit to your child's doctor. Bring all medical
and height records you may have to show the doctor. And ask if there is any way
to know for sure about what is causing your child's slow growth. View sample
questions to ask your doctor to find out if your child can be tested.