Short Stature and School Performance ‐ the Wessex Growth Study

Abstract

The relationship between short stature and school performance was examined by comparing an unselected cohort of 140 ‘normal’ short children (below 3rd centile) aged between 7 and 9 years with 140 control children of normal height (10th–90th centiles). The short children had unimpaired self‐esteem and normal patterns of behaviour, but a tendency towards hyperactivity and poor concentration. Their IQ scores were normal, but attainment, especially in reading, was low. The underachievement observed in the short children is largely due to the low socio‐economic status of this group. All the children in the study were prepubertal and these data will serve as a baseline for further follow‐up during and after puberty.

Short Stature and Functional Impairment

“…8,10,18,[20][21][22] Only results of teacherrated tests were evaluated to minimize biases related to reporting from family members. A total of 274 children were evaluated and compared with controls.…”

Quality of Life and Cognitive Function in Patients with Pituitary Insufficiency

“…ity, lower attainment in reading and thought problems have been observed in such children [18,19]. layed school achievements and a discrepancy between IQ and achievement scores in reading, spelling and arithmetic [20][21][22].…”

Behavioral evaluation of GH treatment in short statured children and adolescents: Findings from a pilot study

“…These studies found distinct personality features, lower self-esteem, increased rates of behavior problems, and lower social competence in short-statured children (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). In contrast, there is another small series of studies that found on average normal psychological functioning in their subjects (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The obvious differences in results may be due to different patient selection, the variety of psychological instruments that were used, and the various informants, including parents, teachers, and the children themselves that were used in the various studies.…”

“…The obvious differences in results may be due to different patient selection, the variety of psychological instruments that were used, and the various informants, including parents, teachers, and the children themselves that were used in the various studies. In addition, referral bias may have contributed to the assumption that short stature implies a psychological handicap (14)(15). In fact, a recent study has shown that non-referred short children in the population in contrast to short children referred for evaluation and treatment do not show behavioral abnormalities (17).…”