Growth Clinic

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Measuring growth is an important part of monitoring a child's health. Height is impacted by many factors including family background, diet, and overall health.

Children growing outside the range of normal may have a serious underlying condition whose only early sign is abnormal growth.

Worrisome factors:

Short stature with abnormally slow growth is the most common concern seen in the growth a clinic. A child significantly shorter than peers who is not showing signs of growth is very concerning.

In contrast, a child growing at a much faster rate than normal who is much taller than peers, particularly if accompanying signs of puberty, is also equally worrisome.

What we do:

The clinic offers initial investigation of growth disorders in an orderly approach beginning with a comprehensive medical history and examination. Further blood or xray testing may be done.

Specialized testing for growth hormone deficiency and other endocrine disorders is performed by specially trained nurses in the clinic in those children needing more in depth evaluation.

Rare problems seen:

Some of the more recognizable bone disorders seen in clinic include:

Primary IGF1 deficiency
Skeletal dysplasia

Common problems seen:

Growth hormone deficiency
Turner syndrome

Your care team

When you bring your child to Cook Children's, you can trust that every aspect of your child's care will be delivered by an amazing medical team, clinicians and caregivers, that includes:

Board certified physicians
Certified pediatric nurse practitioners
Nurse educators
Nutritionists
Social workers
Clinical therapists
Child Life specialists

Care and treatment

Most endocrinology tests and services are available without a hospital stay; however, children who are seriously ill may be admitted to Cook Children's Medical Center for specialized physician care and monitoring.

We're here to help.

If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-885-7960.