What forms of dwarfism are there?

There are innumerable forms of dwarfism, of which the most common are mentioned below:

The most common type of dwarfism in Germany in percentage terms is familial dwarfism, where the parents of the dwarfed child have approximately the same height. This is calculated by the height of the father and mother, divided by two +6.5 cm for a boy and -6.5 cm for a girl.
The frequency is followed by constitutional dwarfism, in which a delayed growth rate is found.
A child can also be underage due to psychosocial factors such as neglect or abuse of a child. Hormonal disorders, chronic diseases or malnutrition can cause reduced growth.
Important to mention are hereditary diseases and syndromes that are associated with short stature.
Hereditary diseases are those whose causes are hereditary.
In addition, certain noxious substances such as alcohol and nicotine damage the growth of a child in the long term. During pregnancy, the mother should therefore pay attention to a responsible lifestyle. In the case of the resulting embryo fetopathies (illnesses in which damage to the child already occurs during pregnancy), the children are born at a very young age and often suffer additionally from a failure to thrive with problematic weight gain.

At what point should a baby’s dwarfism be critically assessed?

In principle, the reduced growth in body size is not to be considered critical. It is important to consider the background and accompanying diseases. The most common reason for dwarfism worldwide is malnutrition.

In this case, the child is denied the gift of vital food for a long time. It is also essential to investigate whether a small baby has anemia or a heart defect that impairs growth. If there are signs of neglect or abuse, the Jugendamt must be involved in the case.

Is small stature a handicap?

Small stature per se is defined as a height below the third percentile. This is usually due to the fact that the growth period is shorter or the growth rate is lower compared to the normal population. The most obvious signs of dwarfism are usually in infancy or puberty.

The question of whether or not a handicap is present is first of all related to the cause of dwarfism. In summary, it can be said that in most cases dwarfism does not represent a handicap and in individual cases an individual decision has to be made about a possible degree of handicap.

If the dwarfism is familial or constitutional, the children grow below the normal range, but normally.
If the dwarfism is due to a chromosomal aberration, a prenatal disorder, a hormonal disorder or a chronic disease, further regulations for the determination of a degree of disability apply.
Secondly, the degree of disability in short stature is determined by the proportionality of the physique. The following factors are also assessed: malformations of limbs or joints, extraordinary wear and tear of joints due to disproportionate physique, limited muscle function and the influence on the psychosocial situation.