What a Child Growth Clinic Does
A growth clinic focuses on one question: is your child growing the way they should, and if not, why? Rather than a quick height check at a well-child visit, the physician looks at the whole picture — growth history over time, family heights, skeletal maturity and the hormones that drive growth.
Families usually look for a growth clinic for one of these reasons:
- Short stature: your child is well below peers or low on the growth chart. See idiopathic short stature.
- Slowing growth: your child is dropping across percentile lines or growing slowly year over year. See slow growth rate.
- Possible growth hormone deficiency: a pediatrician has raised the question or prior labs were borderline. See growth hormone deficiency.
- Late puberty: your child has not started puberty when peers have. See delayed puberty and constitutional growth delay.
- A denial or a long wait: insurance declined coverage or you were told to keep waiting. See options after a denial.
How It Works With HGHKids.com
HGHKids.com is an educational and referral service. We do not prescribe or dispense medication; all medical decisions are made by independent licensed physicians. The path most families follow has three steps:
1. Free Telemedicine Consultation
A complimentary 20-minute call, available to families nationwide, to talk through your child's growth history and whether an in-person evaluation makes sense. Request a free consultation or read about how telemedicine intake works.
2. In-Person Growth Evaluation
If appropriate, your child is seen at our partner clinic in Irvine, CA. The visit can include a physician exam, bone age X-ray, hormone panel blood work and IGF-1 testing. See what the growth evaluation includes.
3. Results and Next Steps
The examining physician reviews the findings with you and explains what they may mean. If results point to a condition that may benefit from treatment, the physician discusses the options, including growth hormone therapy, with realistic expectations.
What It Costs
Our partner clinics are private, cash-pay practices; insurance is not accepted. The initial telemedicine consultation is free. The in-person evaluation, including physician exam and intake labs, is approximately $2,000. If a physician recommends treatment, ongoing costs are discussed openly before any commitment — our growth hormone therapy cost guide lays out the typical ranges.
Do You Have to Live Near Irvine?
No. The first conversation happens by telemedicine and is open to families in all 50 states. The diagnostic work itself — bone age X-ray, blood draws and the physical exam — has to be done in person, so families from outside Southern California typically plan one trip to Irvine for the evaluation.
Questions Parents Ask First
- How do I know if my child needs to be seen? Our parent's guide, Does My Child Need Growth Hormone Therapy?, covers the warning signs and growth-rate benchmarks.
- What records should I bring? Growth measurements from pediatric visits as far back as you have them, prior lab work and a medication list. The evaluation page has the full checklist.
- Is growth hormone safe? See our evidence-based guide to side effects in children and the parent FAQ.
Ready to Schedule Your Child's Evaluation?
Start with a complimentary 20-minute telemedicine consultation to learn more about the evaluation process, understand the costs and determine whether scheduling an in-person visit may be the right step for your family. There is no obligation to speak with our care team.