Growth FastTrack: Inside Our 5 Step Growth Accelerator Process for Stunted Growth

Hearing that your child has stunted growth or might be a short-statured child can feel heavy. Many parents are told to wait months to see a specialist and even longer to complete testing. During that time, your child continues to grow, and you keep wondering whether something important is being missed.

At The Endocrine Company, the Growth FastTrack process is designed to give families a clear path from worry to answers in about one week. Instead of scattered appointments, you move through an organized, 5-step growth evaluation that explains what is happening and what to do next.

This walkthrough will show you what to expect at each step so you and your child feel prepared before you ever walk through the door.

From Worry To A Clear Plan In One Week

For many families, the story starts the same way. A parent notices a child not growing as other children do, or the pediatrician notes slower height gain during a checkup. There may be talk of growth charts, referrals, and the possibility of a hormone issue. It is common to leave that visit with more questions than answers.

The traditional path often involves long gaps between the first concern and a complete growth evaluation. Growth FastTrack was created to shorten that gap. The goal is simple. Take a child with possible stunted growth and, in about a week, move from uncertainty to a clear plan.

Step 1 – Initial Consult: Telling Your Child’s Growth Story

The process begins with an in-depth visit, either in person or through a secure virtual appointment.

At this first visit, the care team will:

• Review your child’s growth history and growth charts if they are available
• Ask about medical history, medications, and any previous testing
• Gather information about parental heights and family height patterns
• Talk directly with your child, at their level, about how they feel about their height and any challenges at school or in activities

This appointment is your chance to describe what you have seen over time. Maybe your child has always been small. Perhaps they were average and then dropped off the curve. Maybe you are not sure what causes slow growth in kids and simply know something feels different for your child.

By the end of this step, the team has a detailed picture of your child’s growth story. That foundation guides every decision that follows.

Step 2 – Bone Age X Ray: Looking At Growth Potential

Next comes bone age, which is a simple X-ray of the hand and wrist. It is quick, painless, and provides important information about how much growing time remains.

Bone age helps answer questions such as:

• Is your child’s bone development younger, older, or about the same as their actual age?
• Does the pattern look more like a late bloomer who will eventually catch up, or does it suggest a possible endocrine cause for stunted growth?

For in-person Growth FastTrack visits, bone age imaging is usually completed the same day as the initial consult. For virtual visits, the team coordinates with a local imaging center and has results ready to review as part of the one-week process.

If bone age is younger than expected, it can indicate that there is still ample time left to grow and that height may improve with time or treatment. If bone age is older than expected, it may mean the window for growth is narrowing. Either way, bone age helps the team move from “a child not growing” in a general sense to a more precise understanding of growth potential.

Step 3 – Growth Hormone Stimulation Testing: Answering The “Why”

Not every short-statured child needs a growth hormone stimulation test. When the history, growth pattern, and bone age suggest a possible hormone issue, this test can provide critical information.

The stim test takes place in The Endocrine Company’s in house Stimulation Center. It is an outpatient test that typically lasts several hours.

Here is what families can expect:

• Your child arrives having followed simple instructions about eating and drinking before the test
• A nurse places a small IV so that medicines and all blood draws use a single line
• Medicines are given to encourage the body to release growth hormone
• Blood samples are collected over time to see how high growth hormone levels rise

Throughout the test, your child is monitored closely and supported with comfort items, rest, and quiet activities. Parents stay nearby and can be present to help the child feel at ease.

In many hospital systems, scheduling this type of test can take months and often occurs in large, busy settings. In the Growth FastTrack model, the stim test is coordinated as part of the same one-week process. The focus is on a calm, child-centered environment and avoiding long delays that could shorten the time available for growth.

Step 4 – Results Consultation: Translating Numbers Into Understanding

Once all testing is complete, you return for a dedicated results visit. This is where data becomes understanding.

During this consultation, the provider:

• Reviews your child’s growth charts, bone age, and test results in clear, everyday language
• Explains how each piece fits together to describe your child’s growth pattern
• Discusses common findings such as constitutional delay of growth and puberty or hormone deficiency, and how they differ
• Connects the findings back to what you see at home, such as a child not growing as expected or a younger sibling catching up

You are encouraged to ask questions throughout this visit. The goal is for you to walk away knowing not just the name of a diagnosis, but how the team arrived at it and what it means for your child’s future growth.

Step 5 – The Action Plan: Knowing What Happens Next

Every Growth FastTrack evaluation ends with a clear action plan tailored to your child.

That plan may include:

• Watchful waiting with regular follow-up visits if testing suggests a late bloomer pattern
• Starting hormone therapy if there is strong evidence of a treatable growth hormone issue
• Ordering additional tests or imaging if something unexpected appears in the results
• Practical guidance on nutrition, sleep, activity, and when to recheck growth

Even when no medication is needed, you leave with a roadmap. A family that began the week with questions about what causes slow growth in kids finishes with a shared understanding of what is happening and what to monitor next.

How This Differs From The Traditional Hospital Path

Many families are familiar with the traditional experience.

Typical hospital pathway

• Several months to schedule the first endocrine consult
•  A separate visit on a different day for bone age imaging
•  Another delay before a stim test or other labs can be scheduled
• A final wait for a results visit once everything is complete

Throughout this process, it can be hard to know where you are in the journey. Communication often flows through different departments, and it may not always be clear who to call with questions.

Growth FastTrack at The Endocrine Company

• A defined five-step process completed in about a week for most families
• Bone age and, when appropriate, stim testing are coordinated as part of one integrated plan
•  Longer, focused visits that give space for questions and conversation
• Transparent information about the steps, timing, and costs before you begin

The clinical tools may be similar, but the experience is different. The emphasis is on clarity, continuity, and a calm, child-focused setting that helps everyone feel more at ease.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Process

Does every child need growth hormone stimulation testing?
No. Many children with short stature do not need a stim test. The decision is based on growth charts, bone age, medical history, exam findings, and how all of those pieces fit together. Some children only need careful follow-up over time.

Is the testing painful or risky?
The most uncomfortable part for most children is the IV placement. After that, blood is drawn through the IV to avoid repeated needle sticks. There may be temporary side effects, such as tiredness, mild nausea, or low blood sugar, which the care team monitors and treats. Serious complications are rare, and safety protocols are in place throughout the test.

How quickly will we know if treatment is recommended?
In the Growth FastTrack model, most families complete the evaluation and receive a plan within about a week. This includes the initial consult, bone age, any needed stimulation testing, and the results visit, rather than waiting months between each step.

What if my child is just a late bloomer?
Some children grow more slowly in childhood and then catch up during puberty. The evaluation is designed to help distinguish a normal variation from a condition that needs treatment. If your child is a late bloomer, the action plan will likely focus on monitoring over time, along with clear guidance about what to expect and when to check back in.

A Clear Path Forward For Your Child’s Growth

If you are raising a short-statured child or watching a child not growing as quickly as you expected, it is natural to feel uncertain and concerned. You may have read about stunted growth or wondered what causes slow growth in kids and how to tell if it applies to your family.

You do not have to sort through those questions alone. The Growth FastTrack process gives you a structured, five-step path from the first worry to a clear plan, often within a single week.

If you are ready for clarity, your next step can be simple. Visit The Endocrine Company’s Growth FastTrack page to learn more about how the process works, or schedule a consult to talk with a pediatric endocrine specialist about your child.