In fact, 85% of children with Achondroplasia are born to average height parents. In instances of spontaneous change, a single normal gene that a parent passes to the child suddenly changes in such a way that it brings out that specific condition. Scientists still do not know what causes the genes to undergo that change. One or both parents in their genes, on the other hand, carry inherited conditions. They are part of the parents" genetic makeup instead of a sudden mutation. Spontaneous mutation can occur in any pregnancy and is the more frequent cause of a child with dwarfism being born to average height parents.
The signs of dwarfism vary depending on the specific condition that causes it. Short stature and short limbs are the most recognizable indicators. Some children have a large head or a bulging forehead and may experience excess fluid around the brain in infancy. As children grow, they may show the other signs as well, such as: delayed development of some motor skills, vulnerable to ear infections, weight problems, curvature of the spine, bowed legs, trouble with joint flexibility, and crowding of the teeth in the jaw. The combination of limited joint flexibility and a curved spine often leads to joint and back problems, numbness, and fatigue in later childhood and adolescence. Early arthritis frequently follows once the person reaches their 20s or 30s. Although these signs apply to some types of dwarfism, they are not universal to all forms. Short stature is the one quality all people with dwarfism have in common. Each condition that causes dwarfism has a specific set of characteristics.
Some types of dwarfism can be identified through prenatal testing, if a doctor suspects a particular condition and tests for it. Most cases are not identified until after birth. In those instances, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on the child's appearance, failure to grow, and x-rays of the bones.