Predicted Adult Height (PAH) is a useful tool. Here's how it can help you understand a child's growth potential.
Predicted Adult Height (PAH) is a scientific estimate based on growth patterns and family information. It is not a promise of final height, but a way of understanding long-term growth potential.
PAH helps contextualize where a child currently is in their developmental journey, rather than simply measuring them against their peers.
PAH is especially useful when viewed as a percentage:
This helps explain why children of the same chronological age may feel very different physically, emotionally, or athletically. One might still be in a rapid growth phase, while another is nearing stability.
MatCalc uses PAH percentage to place maturity and readiness into context. This allows parents and coaches to focus on developmental readiness, rather than chronological age or external comparisons.
Understanding a child's percentage of PAH can help answer questions like:
It shifts the conversation from comparison to understanding individual timelines.
Two 13-year-old teammates: one is 85% of their PAH (still growing rapidly, coordination may be developing), the other is 94% (nearly at adult height, more physically stable). Understanding this difference helps explain performance variations and sets appropriate expectations for training and development.
MatCalc is designed to help parents better understand patterns of growth and development. It does not diagnose medical conditions or replace advice from qualified healthcare professionals. If you ever have concerns about your child's health or wellbeing, a medical professional should always be consulted.