Question:
Hello,
I have a question about how much I can grow from now.
I am weeks into my 18th year, and I recently realized I am 5’11. You know the saying: once you turn 18, you’re considered fully grown. I took the Tanner Stage Calculator, and it turns out I am in stage 4.4. I started Tanner Stage 4 about a year ago, when I was about 5’10. A little growth rate for me over the years:
- 12 – 5’0
- 13 – 5’3
- 14 – 5’6 (my voice changed around here)
- 15 – 5’7.5
- 16 – 5’8 (my Adam’s apple became present during this year)
- 17 – 5’10
- 18 – 5’11
Midway through age 17, signs of stage 4 became noticeable, such as a deeper voice, peach fuzz becoming more noticeable, and chin hair starting to grow a bit more.
Regarding my physical characteristics, I don’t have a lot of facial hair, and I don’t have a broad chest, but I do see some muscle development.
Regarding my development, I am a bit behind compared to my peers in the same year group. So I ended up being a bit taller than them, around the age of 15-16, when they were either maxing out or starting to slow down. I still think I can reach 6’2 because I don’t have a lot of facial hair.
Answer:
Everything you mentioned puts you well into stage 4. You need to remember that during stage 4, your rate of growth slows down and then stops when you reach stage 5. Thus, the closer you get to stage 5, the less growth you are going to see. Since you added an inch last year, I would expect less than half an inch of additional growth. This assumes that you haven’t already reached stage 5.
The calculator does a reasonably good job of estimating a person’s stage of development. It is usually within 0.25 of the actual stage. However, since it depends on a person’s self-assessment, it can be inaccurate due to personal bias.
You appear to be one of those people who don’t have a pronounced growth spurt but spend a longer time in stage 3. Don’t put too much emphasis on facial hair. For many men, facial hair doesn’t fully develop until after reaching stage 5.
Question:
Did the time spent in stage 3 mean more growth was available, or was my growth rate slow compared to other boys?
Answer:
While your rate of growth was slower, because it took place over a more extended period, you still grew about the same amount as the other boys (or a bit more). Some boys grow rapidly but for a short period. Still, the total number of inches they add to their height is roughly the same.