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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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2004
Fri, 06-08-2007 - 10:00am
Get him to doctor immediately! If your doctor does not think anything is wrong and does not do any tests or refer you to someone for tests, find another doctor! He may have a thyroid problem, or Growth Hormone deficiency. My daughter was diagnosed Hypothyroid in the 6th grade, same symptoms, no development, very small, her friends were shooting up past her. They tested her and sure enough it came back abnormal. She is now on Synthroid. Make sure you have him tested for her thyroid and for Human Growth deficiency. A boy that age should be growing!

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