Delayed Puberty/Stunted Growth?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2005
Delayed Puberty/Stunted Growth?
11
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 3:57pm
Was just wondering if anyone knows anything about what would cause delayed puberty/slow growth in a young teen. My DSS is turning 14 in a couple of weeks. He is very thin (has always been on the smaller side) and has grown in height some, but look at it this way - we have been buying him size 10 pants/shorts for almost 4 years, and he still can't keep them up. He's gotten so that he hates to wear jeans - he'd rather wear elastic waisted stuff so he doesn't feel so skinny and have to wear a belt. He is the shortes kid in any class he's in, again, at 14, smaller than a size 10 waist, has only gone up a half a shoe size in the past 2.5-3 years. He weighs around 75 pounds and is about 5'1" Like I said, he has grown a bit taller, but still shorter than everyone else. My DH is not very big, but DSS's 100% biological brother is about 6'1" and 150 pounds and is 2 years older. At 14 he was wearing 16-18 boys bottoms and men's medium tops. The younger one also does not have a single sign of puberty - aside from my asking whether there's any "hair down there." But, judging from his face and armpits - there isn't likely any there either. He really doesn't look like a healthy kids - but he eats pretty decent. My MIL said that when DH was young, the Drs worried he was too small and were forever trying to "fatten" him up. Is it possible that DH had some kind of growth deficiency that passed to this guy? Just because nobody did anything about DH, doesn't mean DSS should have to just deal with it...right? The reason it's such a concern is because he has a lot of behavior issues. He bullies a lot and has ADHD and runs his mouth a lot along with other things. We just wonder if he has a hard time coping with how different he is or something? I just don't want to call the Dr and be like - my kid is small - what's wrong with him? I'm not looking to bulk him up or anything...Any advice? TIA!
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Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 4:12pm
He should be tested by a doctor to see if he needs human growth hormone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2005
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 4:27pm
I wasn't sure, his mom is about 5'7", dad is about 5'9 or 10" He isn't ridiculously short, but he really looks pathetic. His knees are so knobby, his feet look funny, his neck and chest are so thin. He just looks undernourished or something, but eats, and no Dr has ever seemed concerned...I don't know. I guess I'll just call and see what I can find out. Thanks!
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Avatar for jbgattuso
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 4:36pm

I had a friend who had a son with this same problem. Sadly they waited and waited hoping that when puberty hit it would be better. Well, when he was 15 and still had the body of an 11 yr old, they took him in. He did need the growth hormone and something about taking the shots puts puberty off. Or something. Don't quote me, but it was something that they wished they had done at a younger age. Just thought I would let you know. Good luck,

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2005
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 4:40pm
I appreciate it! I guess it can't hurt to ask, right?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 5:24pm

I would take him in and ask that testing be done. If his height is off, you would be looking at growth problems. They can run bloodwork and take Xrays to determine bone age.

Weight? Lots of possibilities. He could have some reason he isnt absorbing nutrients or he could have an eating disorder that he has managed to hide. Is he taking meds for the ADHD? Those can keep weight down-perhaps he needs a readjustment with the dose

My middle son didnt begin puberty until 15 and yes, he is fine now-19. BUT we had all the testing done to put our minds at ease(actually he was tested as a wee one because he wasnt on the growth charts even then)

It is very difficult to be small and a boy IMHO.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 5:36pm
There is no harm in asking his doctor. If he is on speed for the ADHD, then that could be a big part of it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 11:02pm

At 14 and 5ft 1,that height is well in the range of normal,even if there are tall people in his family.

Even if the parents are not tall, there could be "short genes" in the family.
Tall genes are dominant. Short genes are recessive. So, you need to inherit two short genes to be short but only 1 tall gene to be tall. If one of his grandparents were short, that could do it.

And anyways, 14 is not actually delayed puberty for a boy. Some boys take longer. My son was only about 5ft 1 at age 14. He is now 5ft 5. Even though his father & grandfather are tall, I had a short father. So, genetics ae genetics.

Go to the doctor if you concerned but if he ends up on the short side, it isn't the end of the world. There are many very successful men who are not tall.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 11:05pm
With those parental heights, I am mot surprised he is 5ft 1 at 14.
Given that boys continue growing till the early 20s, he still has many years of growth ahead of him.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 06-05-2007 - 7:18am

Totally agree.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 06-05-2007 - 7:21am

My advice would be to have him seen by a pediatric endocrinologist. There are far too many variables in puberty development to even guess what may be the cause, without testing being done. There are numberous causes of delayed puberty.

Has his pediatrician done any testing to see why he's no gaining weight? The average weight of a 14 year old boy is around 125-135 lbs. Though if your 6'1" son only weighs 150 lbs it could be that he's just destined to weigh less than average no matter what. In either case, You will want to bring any test results with you to the endocrinologist, so that they won't have to re-run tests that have already been done.

My son is on the opposite end of the spectrum, he has precocious puberty. Essential he entered puberty too early. This resulted in his growth plates closing sooner than they should have. It's been projected that he'll stop growing 2-3 years earlier than he otherwise would as a result. He also had to deal with the physical signs of puberty too early. Pubic hair at 7/8, underarm hair at 8/9, required shaving at 13... complete with 5 o'clock shaddow and stubble. People often mistake him for being 15/16 years old.

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