skip to content
   

pretest

introduction

measurement technique

assessment guidelines

influence of special health care needs

making clinical decisions

posttest

for more information

   Take a look at what happens when errors are made:
photo of child on scale   weight-for-age chart

This child was weighed. His weight was plotted above the 95th percentile for age. He is not overweight. What went wrong?

  • He was weighed wearing a coat and a bulky sweater and holding a full bottle
  • Age was calculated incorrectly…he is actually 3½-years old, not 3-years old

After he was re-weighed, in light clothing, and his weight and age were plotted correctly, it became evident that he was growing appropriately. This case is probably an exaggeration of what happens in typical practice, but illustrates the importance of accurate technique and plotting.

growth chart

 
   
backnext
    Glossary | Module Index | Home