The parents of the dwarfed children found that they wanted and needed more time to discuss their questions and concerns with their doctor and other professionals than was generally provided. They needed time not only when the initial diagnosis was given, but again at different stages of both their child's development and their acceptance of the condition. The reactions of parents to their child's abnormality varied and was affected by how information was presented to them. The majority of parents wanted a chance to form some relationship with their child before being told the diagnosis and more parents preferred to be told when the doctor is sure a dwarfing condition is present rather than when he just suspects one. In the early stages after diagnosis the most frequent questions concerned the availability of a cure, expected adult height, and intelligence. Cause and inheritance, and family planning questions usually followed. As the children developed, the parents' most pressing questions concerned quality of life that they could expect for their child. The study found a high incidence of mental and behavioural disturbance in families with a dwarfed individual, which suggests that the whole family may need professional assistance.
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STACE et al. (1981) studied this question.