Which parameter indicates how quickly a child is growing over a period of time?

• A. Current height percentile
• B. Current weight percentile
• C. Growth velocity (rate of change in height or weight)
• D. Bone age score

Answer: (C)

Growth velocity is the rate at which height or weight changes over a defined period, typically expressed as cm per year or kg per year. This parameter shows how quickly a child is growing, based on serial measurements over time, rather than a single point of data.

A current height percentile or current weight percentile tells you where the child stands on a growth chart at one moment in time, but it doesn’t reveal how fast they have been growing to reach that point. Bone age score indicates skeletal maturation, which relates to development timing but not the actual pace of growth.

So, by looking at how much height or weight changes between visits, you get a true picture of growth speed over time.