Can your child still grow taller? How much more? Parental concerns about children’s height cannot be avoided. Judging the current state and potential of growth by age? By comparison? Neither seems reliable. The most reliable method is “assessing bone age.”
In children’s growth and development, “bone age” acts like a precise ruler that directly reflects skeletal maturity, providing more accurate predictions of growth potential and adult height than chronological age.
However, many parents remain confused about optimal timing for bone age assessments, often missing crucial monitoring windows.
Director Xianyu Shuming, pediatric expert at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, emphasizes: only by mastering scientific bone age assessment time points can we better track children’s growth trajectories.
Routine monitoring: Regular evaluations required after age 3.
Before age 3, growth primarily depends on nutritional intake and genetic factors, with relatively stable skeletal development.
However, from age 3 onward, growth pattern gradually transitions from “rapid infant growth” to “steady childhood growth.” Bone age assessment at this stage clearly reflects growth trends.
Expert suggests that initiate first bone age assessment should begin at age 3, followed by examinations every 1-2 years. Bone age data during this phase serves as “baseline values” for growth monitoring. Physicians can compare bone age changes across stages to determine normal growth velocity.
For example: If bone age matches chronological age at 3 years but shows significant advancement or delay by age 5, potential issues like growth hormone abnormalities or thyroid dysfunction require attention.
Critical monitoring: Pre-puberty and puberty as golden periods.
Puberty represents the “final sprint” in growth and development, making bone age monitoring particularly crucial.
Generally, girls enter puberty between 8 to 10 years old, and boys between 10 to 12 years old, when sex hormones begin to surge, leading to a sudden acceleration in growth. Conducting a bone age assessment before the onset of puberty (i.e., before age 8 for girls and age 10 for boys) can help predict the timing of development and estimate adult height potential in advance.
After entering puberty, it is recommended to have bone age rechecked every six months to one year, because sex hormones accelerate bone closure, and once bone age approaches adult levels, height growth potential becomes extremely limited. For example, when girls reach a bone age of 15 and boys reach a bone age of 17, their height usually increases by less than 5 centimeters.
Bone age monitoring enables physicians to maximize height potential through nutritional adjustments, exercise planning, or medical interventions when necessary.
Alert! These warning signs require immediate bone age assessment.
Director Xianyu Shuming reminds that in addition to routine monitoring, it is recommended to promptly conduct a bone age assessment if a child exhibits the following conditions.
Persistent height below 3rd percentile for sex and age group (assessed via growth charts in child health records).
Abnormal growth velocity, such as annual height growth of less than 5 cm before puberty (ages 3 to puberty) or less than 6 cm per year during puberty.
Premature development of secondary sexual characteristics, with girls exhibiting breast development before age 8 and boys showing testicular enlargement before age 9.
Or a family history of chronic diseases (such as hypothyroidism, precocious puberty, growth hormone deficiency).
These conditions may cause significant bone age-chronological age discrepancy. Early assessment facilitates timely diagnosis and intervention.
Key notes about bone age assessment:
Some parents believe that bone age testing involves high radiation exposure and may harm their childs health. In fact, taking an X-ray of the left wrist is the most commonly used method for bone age assessment, with a radiation dose equivalent to just one short flight—making it extremely safe.
Furthermore, bone age assessment is a specialized medical procedure that must be conducted by experienced professional doctors in combination with multiple indicators such as growth hormone levels and thyroid function. Do not trust “bone age-based height prediction” services from unqualified institutions.
“Children’s day” free clinic event now ongoing!
To celebrate upcoming june 1st children’s day, from may 24 to june 4, 2025, Hainan Chengmei Hospital pediatric clinic launches major growth and development free clinic campaign!
During the event, the hospital’s child healthcare team will provide on-site consultations, with free bone age tests and growth development assessments for all!
Whether seeking to understand growth potential or scientific height optimization strategies, don’t miss this rare opportunity for complimentary professional services. Bring your child now!
I. Time:
May 24 - June 4, 2025
II. Location:
Chengmei Hospital 2nd floor pediatric clinic
III. Details:
1. Free height and weight measurements.
2. Free bone age testing. Understand your child’s remaining growth potential and predict their growth curve (Limited to 20 children per day).
3. Free professional growth assessment. Learn your child’s current height percentile and get scientific advice on height management.
4. Expert guidance on growth and development.
IV. Eligibility:
1. Children significantly shorter than peers (by half a head or more).
2. Annual growth rate below 5 cm/year.
3. Parents with shorter stature.
4. Children with stockier builds than peers (higher risk of early puberty).
5. Consistently seated in the front three rows of class + slow growth in the past year.
6. Early or delayed puberty signs.
V. Registration:
Scan the QR code below to sign up.
Contact: Teacher Zhong, 18689961127.
Editor | Huang Fei