Signs and symptoms — other than short stature — vary considerably across the spectrum of disorders. Disproportionate dwarfism Most people with dwarfism have disorders that cause disproportionately short stature. Usually, this means that a person has an average-size trunk and very short limbs, but some people may have a very short trunk and shortened (but disproportionately large) limbs. In these disorders, the head is disproportionately large compared with the body. Almost all people with disproportionate dwarfism have normal intellectual capacities. Rare exceptions are usually the result of a secondary factor, such as excess fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus). The most common cause of dwarfism is a disorder called achondroplasia, which causes disproportionately short stature. This disorder usually results in the following:  An average-size trunk Short arms and legs, with particularly short upper arms and upper legs Short fingers, often with a wide separation between the middle and ring fingers Limited mobility at the elbows A disproportionately large head, with a prominent forehead and a flattened bridge of the nose Progressive development of bowed legs Progressive development of swayed lower back An adult height around 4 feet (122 cm)  Another cause of disproportionate dwarfism is a rare disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC). Signs may include:  A very short trunk A short neck Shortened arms and legs Average-size hands and feet Broad, rounded chest Slightly flattened cheekbones Opening in the roof of the mouth (cleft palate) Hip deformities that result in thighbones turning inward A foot that's twisted or out of shape Instability of the neck bones Progressive hunching curvature of the upper spine Progressive development of swayed lower back Vision and hearing problems Arthritis and problems with joint movement Adult height ranging from 3 feet (91 cm) to just over 4 feet (122 cm)  Proportionate dwarfism Proportionate dwarfism results from medical conditions present at birth or appearing in early childhood that limit overall growth and development. So the head, trunk and limbs are all small, but they're proportionate to each other. Because these disorders affect overall growth, many of them result in poor development of one or more body systems. Growth hormone deficiency is a relatively common cause of proportionate dwarfism. It occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce an adequate supply of growth hormone, which is essential for normal childhood growth. Signs include:  Height below the third percentile on standard pediatric growth charts Growth rate slower than expected for age Delayed or no sexual development during the teen years 
signs symptoms — short stature — vary considerably across spectrum disorders  disproportionate dwarfism people dwarfism disorders cause disproportionately short stature  usually  means person average-size trunk short limbs  people may short trunk shortened (but disproportionately large) limbs  disorders  head disproportionately large compared body  people disproportionate dwarfism normal intellectual capacities  rare exceptions result secondary factor  excess fluid brain (hydrocephalus)  common cause dwarfism disorder called achondroplasia  causes disproportionately short stature  disorder results following:  average-size trunk short arms legs  short upper arms upper legs short fingers  wide separation middle ring fingers limited mobility elbows disproportionately large head  prominent forehead flattened bridge nose progressive development bowed legs progressive development swayed lower back adult height 4 feet (122 cm)  cause disproportionate dwarfism rare disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (sedc)  signs may include:  short trunk short neck shortened arms legs average-size hands feet broad  rounded chest slightly flattened cheekbones opening roof mouth (cleft palate) hip deformities result thighbones turning foot that's twisted shape instability neck bones progressive hunching curvature upper spine progressive development swayed lower back vision hearing problems arthritis problems joint movement adult height ranging 3 feet (91 cm) just 4 feet (122 cm)  proportionate dwarfism proportionate dwarfism results medical conditions present birth early childhood limit growth development  head  trunk limbs small  they're proportionate other  disorders affect growth  result poor development body systems  growth hormone deficiency common cause proportionate dwarfism  occurs pituitary gland fails produce adequate supply growth hormone  essential normal childhood growth  signs include:  height third percentile standard pediatric growth charts growth rate slower expected age delayed sexual development teen years 
dwarfism