The chronological age of the person when they go through puberty is not at
all relevant to the stages and development of puberty.  You can be an early
bloomer (10-12) or a late bloomer (20-22), or in the 'typical' range of
12-17.  It doesn't matter at all what your chronological age is.

There are both genetic and environmental influences on when you go through
puberty -- you can have genes for early, middle, or late puberty.  You can
have genes for a marked growth spurt, a moderate growth spurt, or an
undetectable growth spurt.  Malnutrition, disease, and emotional stress will
delay puberty, but it will eventually happen, and it will be just like
anyone else's when it does.

A growth specialist can take an x-ray of the bones of the left wrist, and
compare it to an atlas of typical chronological ages of people with that
level of bone development, and thus give you a 'bone age'.

For example, say that your 14 year old son is the shortest boy in his class,
still has a soprano voice, no pubic or axillary (armpit) hair growth, no
acne, etc.  Everyone else in his class is going through puberty and he is
worried there is something 'wrong' with him.  You take him to the doctor,
who takes an x-ray of his left wrist and compares it to the Gruelich-Pyle
Atlas.  His 'bone age' is that of an 11 year old -- doesn't matter how many
years have passed since his birth, he has the developmental age of an 11
year old.  Most 11 year olds haven't gone through puberty yet.  He and his
parents can be reassured that in the next few years, he will begin puberty.
He will not be short and undeveloped forever.  And, in fact, because he has
had several more years of slow childhood growth before he starts his
adolescent growth spurt, he will probably end up relatively tall.  It may be
emotionally difficult for his to deal with teasing from the other boys his
age, but at least he can know intellectually that (1) there is nothing wrong
with him and (2) he will probably end up taller than the jerks who are
teasing him.

Ditto, in the opposite direction, for the 10 year old girl who starts breast
development and then menstruation in 4th grade.  An x-ray of her wrist might
show an advanced bone age more typical of a 14 year old, who would be
expected to be going through puberty.  As a 10 year old, this girl is
probably the tallest one in her class, but once you go through puberty you
stop growing in height, so she'll no doubt end up a relatively short adult.
She can be reassured that she won't always be 4" taller than all the boys.

End of lecture.

Kathy Dettwyler


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