Patient's question:
My child is exactly 14 years old this year, but he has always been quite short, only 1.54 meters tall now. However, I've noticed this year that he has started to change his voice and has become very noticeable in terms of facial hair. This is a sign of physical development and maturation, and I am very worried: In his case, will he stop growing taller? Can he still grow? He also eats very little for dinner and exercises very little, only limited to physical activities at school. At home, he rarely exercises.What kind of assistance I need: Please have an expert explain this to me. I am really very worried. He is very short, is it possible that his growth has matured and he won't grow any taller? I started growing taller quite late, only beginning to do so in my later high school years, around 17-18 years old. I am 1.76 meters tall, and his mother is 1.60 meters tall.
Doctor's answer:
Now it's only 1.54 meters tall, but this year I noticed he has started to change his voice and his beard has become quite noticeable. This is a sign of physical development and maturity. Will he stop growing taller?Advice: Hello, whether or not he will grow taller is not determined by voice changes, but by whether the growth plates have fully fused. If the growth plates haven't fused, he will continue to grow taller. Generally, boys around 18 years old have experienced their main growth spurt. There's no need to worry too much. If you're still concerned, you can go to the hospital for a check-up to see the growth plates and feel more at ease.