Q: How does one get diagnosed with dwarfism?
A: Measurements, Appearance, Imaging technology, Genetic tests, Family history, and Hormone tests can help diagnose dwarfism.
A: People with dwarfism are born with this disease and is diagnosed between the ages of 0-2. People with Turner Syndrome
are normally diagnosed at about the age of 5.
A: Measurements, Appearance, Imaging technology, Genetic tests, Family history, and Hormone tests can help diagnose dwarfism.
- Measurements as a child or infant the child's pediatrician should do regular measurements on your child as he/she grows. These measurements are plotted on a graph, and is the chart is out of the ordinary the pediatrician will go more frequent measurements to properly diagnose the child.
- Appearance as the child develops your pediatrician should be able to identify signs of dwarfism by distinct skeletal and facial features
- Imaging technology the doctor may uses radiology (X-rays) to asses the needs of a child with dwarfism. This may include MRI's to be able to see the skull and backbone and asses what the condition the child is in. MRI's can also show the doctor the state of the hormone glands in the person of interest.
- Genetic tests these can be used to pinpoint many of the genetic causes of dwarfism, but often are not necessary to make an active diagnosis of dwarfism. The only reason a doctor might suggest a test be done is to be able to plan for future operations, treatments, etc. If your daughter is diagnosed with Turner syndrome (see Genetic causes) then special blood work maybe done to asses the state of the X chromosomes.
- Family history your doctor may put together a list of siblings, parents, and other family members who had a history of short stature to see the average height of a person in your family.
- Hormone tests the pediatrician may also test your child's growth hormone levels to see if it will be critical in childhood growth and development.
A: People with dwarfism are born with this disease and is diagnosed between the ages of 0-2. People with Turner Syndrome
are normally diagnosed at about the age of 5.