Understanding Growth Disorders
Starting a growth conversation with your doctor
If you’re concerned about your child’s growth, it can help to talk to your family doctor or pediatrician. Here is an overview of what those initial conversations and growth assessments may include.
How doctors measure growth
Your family doctor or pediatrician will usually measure your child’s growth as part of the routine checkups they have throughout childhood. These measurements may include:
- Length – Children aged 2 and younger may be measured on their backs, ideally with a tool called an infantometer
- Height – Children over age 2 may be measured standing up, ideally with a tool called a stadiometer
- Sitting height
- Head circumference – The distance around a child's head may be measured in children up to 3-4 years old, with a measuring tape
- Arm span – The length from the tip of one hand to the other with outstretched arms
- Weight
Actor portrayal
Understanding growth charts
Your doctor may put your child’s measurements on a growth chart. A growth chart shows two things:
- How your child’s growth changes over time
- How your child’s growth compares to other children of the same age and sex
Important growth terms that might come up
Height velocity
Height velocity is how much your child grows over a period of time. Essentially, it’s their growth rate. Using this rate, doctors can estimate how tall your child will be when they’re done growing. A decrease in height velocity during childhood could be the sign of a medical condition.
Target height
Target height is an estimate of how tall your child “should” grow up to be, based on the heights of both biological parents. Doctors look at whether your child is likely to reach this target based on their height velocity.
Percentile
Percentile refers to how your child’s growth compares to that of their peers. For example, a child in the 20th percentile for height is taller than 20% of their peers and shorter than 80%. Especially low growth percentiles can lead doctors to suspect or diagnose certain growth-related disorders.
When to ask your doctor about growth
You might wonder about your child’s growth based on their measurements. You may also make observations at home that raise questions or concerns.
Ask your doctor to look into your child’s growth if you notice:
- Your child is much shorter than their peers and classmates
- Your child is growing more slowly than their peers and classmates
- Your child is shorter than you were at their age
Actor portrayal
What to say to your doctor about your concerns
You can get the ball rolling with questions such as:
- Can you explain the measurements you’ve taken?
- My child’s percentile has fallen since the last measurement. Does that point to an issue with my child’s growth?
- What are some possible causes for lack of growth?
- Should my child see a specialist?
Jotting down your questions before the next visit can help to make sure you get them all answered.
Grace, born with Noonan syndrome
Time to see a specialist?
If you or your doctor suspect your child has a growth-related disorder, ask about getting referred to a specialist. Primary care doctors can do preliminary tests. But the diagnosis and treatment of growth-related disorders falls in the area of medicine known as endocrinology.
Pediatric endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in growth-related disorders among children. They can do specific tests to determine what, if anything, is affecting your child’s growth and how best to treat it.
More resources for your journey
What can you expect from treatment?
We can’t say for sure how much growth a child may experience with growth hormone therapy. But we can share tips and information you may find helpful.
Actor portrayal
Navigating insurance coverage
We’re here to support you throughout the approval process and beyond.
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
