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Specialty Growth Charts
It is important to use the CDC growth charts first and then
evaluate whether or not it is appropriate to use a specialty growth chart
along with the information provided by the CDC charts.
Specialty growth charts have been constructed with data
from groups of children with a number of disabilities. These charts are
sometimes used for comparing the growth (especially in stature) of children
who have conditions that affect an individual’s genetic growth potential.
There are some major drawbacks to the specialty charts,
however:
- Most of the charts are based on small groups of children
and there is no ethnic or racial mix.
- Although the children reflected in the growth chart share
a diagnosis, their growth potential may not be similar. For example,
some may have received tube feedings, or some children may have had
concurrent or secondary medical conditions that interfered with growth.
Those children whose growth (and growth potential) is most accurately
reflected in specialty growth charts are those whose disorders have
a genetic component.
- The children used to compile the charts may not have
been ideally nourished. Thus, weights and heights may be lower or higher
than what is ideal.
- Measuring techniques may have been inconsistent (in some
cases, chart reviews were used to collect data; in other cases, the
measurement techniques were not clearly defined).
- In general, the charts do not include all growth
parameters (weight-for-age, stature-for-age, weight-for-stature); an
assessment based only on a specialty chart is incomplete.
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