Late Bloomers Word Search? The 61 Top Answers

People who take the time to discover themselves

A late bloomer is a person whose talents or abilities are not visible to others until later than usual.[1][2][3] The term is used metaphorically to describe a child or adolescent who develops more slowly than others in their age group but eventually catches up and in some cases outstrips their peers, or an adult whose talent or genius in a particular field comes later comes to light in life is normal – sometimes only in old age.

children [edit]

There are many theories about child development put forward by such authorities as Urie Bronfenbrenner,[4] Jerome Bruner,[5] Erik Erikson, Jerome Kagan, Lawrence Kohlberg, Jean Piaget,[6] and Lev Vygotsky. Although they disagree on how developmental stages should be defined and on the primary influences on development, they agree that a child’s development can be measured as a predictable series of advances in physical, intellectual and social skills, which almost always occur in the same order, although the rate may vary from one child to another.

If a child falls behind their peers at a certain developmental stage, their teacher may perceive that the child is “backward.” There is strong evidence that this perception can be self-fulfilling: although the child is catching up, the teacher may continue to evaluate their performance poorly, resulting in a long-term handicap.[7][8] Thomas Edison’s mind often wandered, and his teacher was overheard calling him “confused.” This ended Edison’s three-month formal schooling. His mother then tutored him at home.[9] Edison may have had some form of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which the American Psychiatric Institute says affects about 3-5% of children.[10]

A notable example of a child overcoming early developmental problems is Albert Einstein, who suffered from language difficulties as a young child.[11] Other late-speaking children who became very successful engineers, mathematicians, and scientists include physicists Richard Feynman[12] and Edward Teller.[13] Neuroscientist Steven Pinker postulates that a certain form of speech delay in some people may actually be associated with extraordinary and innate analytical abilities.[14]

Dyslexia is a learning disability that can affect 3-10% of children. It is believed to be the result of a genetically inherited neurological difference from “normal” children and has been diagnosed in people of all intelligence levels.[15] Studies show that 20% to 35% of US and UK entrepreneurs have the condition: late bloomers by definition. Researchers suggest that entrepreneurs with dyslexia can be successful by delegating responsibilities and excelling at verbal communication.[16] Richard Branson, known for his Virgin brand of over 360 companies, is a notable example,[17] as is Charles R. Schwab, the founder and CEO of Charles Schwab Corporation.[18] Pablo Picasso, Tom Cruise, and Whoopi Goldberg are other examples of dyslexics who were considered “slow” as children.[19]

The autism spectrum of mental illness affects approximately 0.6% of children, characterized by widespread abnormalities in social interactions and communication, severely restricted interests, and highly repetitive behavior.[20] Notable people with autism spectrum disorders include Tim Page, a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author[21] and Vernon L. Smith, a Nobel Laureate in Economics.[22]

teenagers [edit]

During puberty, a child goes through physical and mental changes that lead to their growing up. Puberty usually begins with the early stages of puberty and continues until physical growth is complete, although the World Health Organization defines adolescence simply as the period between the ages of 10 and 20. There is a wide range of normal age groups, but generally girls begin the process of puberty between the ages of 8 and 13,[23] while boys typically begin between the ages of 9 and 14.[24] The entire process of puberty typically lasts up to 4 years,[25] with girls typically completing around the age of 14 and boys around the age of 15-16.[26]

“Late bloomers” may refer to children suffering from delayed puberty who are late in reaching their full height. W. B. Yeats (30 years),[27] Pierre Trudeau (at least 28 years),[28] Mark Twain (34 years), and Johann von Goethe (39 years) are all “late bloomers” in this latter sense.

In most public education systems, children and young people of the same age are placed in the same classes. Because of the wide variation in onset of adolescence, this means that a class may include individuals who have not yet started puberty, others who are sexually mature but not fully adult, and still others who are actually adults. During this period, there is a high risk that a young person will drop out of formal education (most commonly due to laziness, intellectual boredom, bullying or rebellion) without having reached their full learning potential.[29] The term “late bloomer” may refer to a person who, in their 20s or 30s, develops serious intellectual interests and enrolls in college, where they do particularly well, and then build a career.

adults [edit]

A late flowering adult is a person who discovers their talents and abilities later than is normally expected. In certain cases, retirement can lead to this discovery.

Although it is commonly believed that intellectual development peaks in a young adult and then slowly declines with age, this may be simplistic. Although the ability to form new memories and concepts may actually decrease, the older person has the benefit of accumulated knowledge, associations between concepts, and mental techniques that can give them an advantage in some areas.[30]

Here are some notable examples of late bloomers in different fields.

Acting[ edit ]

It was common for many actors to not get their big “breakthrough” in the film industry until their late twenties or well into their thirties. Meryl Streep only graduated from the Yale School of Drama at the age of twenty-seven. Actor Alan Rickman only began his career at the age of 28, having previously run a graphic design company. He had his first real break in theater in his forties. Danny Aiello didn’t start acting until he was forty. Peg Phillips might be one of the best examples as after retiring from accounting she initially worked as a professional actress; she began acting professionally in her late sixties.[31] Although not a notable actress, Clara Peller may be known for having an even later start in entertainment in her 80s.[32] Richard Farnsworth became an actor after forty years as a stuntman, although he had a few small uncredited roles when he was younger.[33] Ellen Albertini Dow received her first film credit when she was sixty-eight.[34] Rodney Dangerfield was an actor/comedian who didn’t really get started until he was forty-two. He had played clubs when he was younger but left to work as a salesman.[35] Zelda Rubinstein was 48 years old before she had her first role, a supporting role in Under the Rainbow, but is better known for her “debut” in the poltergeist film series, which begins the following year. Chicago native Chi McBride, best known for his role as the lead actor on the series “Boston Public,” didn’t start acting until he was thirty-one.[36] Danny Glover had a brief career in politics before turning to acting at age twenty-eight.[37] British BAFTA winner Liz Smith did not become a professional actress until she was 50 years old. Kathryn Joosten also had a late start, beginning acting in community theater at the age of forty-two.[38] Taxi TV star Judd Hirsch and character actor Bill Cobbs became active at the age of 36. George Wendt, who played Norm on Cheers, turned active at the age of 32. Brian Dennehy dreamed of the stage and screen from a young age but decided to pursue other interests first, such as serving in the US Marine Corps before turning active at the age of 38. Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, who starred as Mad Eye Moody in the Harry Potter films and opposite Colin Farrell in In Bruges, began acting professionally at age 34, having previously worked as a school teacher. Indian (Bengali) actor Paran Bandopadhyay is another late bloomer who began his acting career in television and film at the age of sixty after retiring from his government post. Jerry Doyle, known from Babylon 5, didn’t start acting until he was 36 after working as a stockbroker and pilot. Sylvester Stallone was thirty when he wrote and starred in the first Rocky. All his life he’s been pushing his body through rigorous training routines for his film roles. Most notably, at the age of 43, he developed his now-famous Rambo 3 physique, which earned him the moniker “80’s physique.” Veteran Indian (Malayalam) actor Sathyan began his career at the age of forty after retiring from the police force. He later rose to prominence as one of the greatest Malayalam film actors and actor Thilakan did not find widespread success until well into his forties, although he began his film career at the age of thirty-seven after working in a drama troupe.

art [edit]

Grandma Moses

In art, “late bloomers” are most commonly associated with naïve art. This term is used for untrained artists and thus fits those who later start life without artistic training. The classic late bloomer, therefore, is Grandma Moses, whose painting career began in her seventies after giving up an embroidery career because of arthritis.[39] There is also Janet Sobel, a painter whose career began in the midst of life, at the age of forty-five.[40] Beryl Cook is another example; she had no artistic training and did not become a serious painter until she was forty.[41] An older example is Bill Traylor, who began drawing at the age of 83.[42] Another painter who started late in life is Alfred Wallis, who began painting after the death of his wife in his 60s.[43] Mary Delany produced her “Paper Mosaic [sic]” between the ages of 71 and 88.[44] Then there is Carmen Herrera, who had an artistic education but sold her first work of art in 2004 at the age of 89 after six decades of painting privately.[45]

Vincent van Gogh (March 1853 – July 29, 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In a decade he created about 2,100 works of art, including about 860 oil paintings, mostly from the last two years of his life.

business [edit]

In business, Irene Wells Pennington is best known in her nineties for helping to settle irregularities in her husband’s oil business after he had gone senile in his own nineties.[46] Colonel Sanders started his franchise in his 60’s and can also be counted as a financial success late in life.[47] In his mid-50s, Taikichiro Mori founded the company that made him the richest man in the world for a year or two. He came from a merchant family, but had been an economics professor before his 50s.[48]

dance [edit]

Misty Copeland was considered a child prodigy rising to stardom, although he didn’t start ballet until he was 13. Japanese dancer and choreographer Kazuo Ohno didn’t take formal dance lessons until his late twenties and was 43 when he gave his first concert at Kanda Kyoritsu Hall in Tokyo in 1949. A decade later, he and colleague Tatsumi Hijikata gained worldwide recognition as the core of the butoh dance movement.[49] Martha Graham dancer David Zurak took his first dance class at age 23 and built a successful career in New York City.

Games and sports[edit]

Oscar Swahn at the 1912 Olympics, aged 64

In athletics, Philip Rabinowitz set a sprint record for centenarians.[50] Ida Keeling also started running in her late 60’s and on April 30, 2016 she became the first woman in history to run a 100 meter at the age of 100. Her time of 1:17.33 was witnessed by a crowd of 44,469 at the 2016 Penn Relays.[51][52][53][54]

In basketball, Hakeem Olajuwon didn’t touch basketball until he was 15, but his athleticism and basics in sports, soccer, and handball helped him rise as one of the greatest bigmen to ever play in the NBA.

In baseball, Josh Hamilton, a former number one draft pick, didn’t make his major league debut until he was 26 due to years of heavy drug and alcohol abuse. He was a multiple All-Star and won the 2010 American League MVP award. A few pitchers who are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are examples: Dazzy Vance didn’t win his first major league game until he was 31, but he went on to become the most dominant pitcher in the National League for the next decade. Hoyt Wilhelm was already 29 when he first played in the majors, but by the time he retired at 49, he had set a record for most pitched games at 1,070 and established himself as one of the greatest relief pitchers made a name of all time.[58] Among contemporary players, Edwin Encarnacion is referred to as a late bloomer because he had a totally unremarkable career until he was 29, after which he blossomed into an amazing racquet.[59] Pitcher Randy Johnson, who made his major league debut at 25 but didn’t become a superstar until he was 30, could also be considered a late bloomer.[60]

In boxing, heavyweight champions Ken Norton and Rocky Marciano didn’t start boxing until their twenties, but both have had successful careers at the highest level of competition.

In chess, Rani Hamid began playing at the age of 34 and later, among other achievements, became Bangladesh’s first International Women’s Champion in 1985.[61][62]

In cricket, Dirk Nannes, who once played for the Delhi Daredevils ahead of great fast bowler Glenn McGrath, made his first-class debut at 29.

In field hockey, the great player Dhyan Chand didn’t play ice hockey in his life until he joined the Indian Army.

In football, Kurt Warner, who joined the NFL at age 28, became a two-time MVP and Super Bowl champion.[64]

In ice hockey, Tim Thomas, an American professional ice hockey goaltender, played in the minor leagues and in Europe for several years before making the NHL at age 28 with the Boston Bruins. Eventually, at the age of 32, he became the Bruins’ first-choice goalkeeper. Thomas is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2009 and 2011) as the league’s top goaltender and was a member of Team USA at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Thomas won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He became the oldest player in league history to win the Conn Smythe at age 37.

There were two notable figures in shooting whose achievements occurred in their sixties or later. Joshua Millner of Great Britain was 61 years old when he won his Olympic gold medal in the free rifle 1,000 yards.[66] Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn won two Olympic gold medals at the age of 60 and one at the age of 64. He won his last medal, silver, at age 72, making him the oldest medalist.[67]

In squash, Jonah Barrington overcame alcoholism to become six-time British Open Squash Champion and was considered one of the fittest men in the world.[68]

In tennis, Angelique Kerber, Li Na, Stan Wawrinka, Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Jana Novotna, Goran Ivanišević and Andrés Gómez are famous late bloomers who won their first Grand Slam singles titles after the age of 28.

Didier Drogba only signed a professional contract with a club when he was 21.[71] It wasn’t until the age of 26 when he joined Chelsea that he showed his true talent as a world-class footballer. Drogba scored the equalizer and then the winning penalty in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final aged 34.

The story of Junior Messiah is one of the most incredible the football community has seen. At the age of 24 he challenged his regular progression in the local club’s fifth tier in Italy, a few years later he turned professional footballer and was even able to make his debut and winning goal in the Champions League at the age of 30, shortly after coming on loan became Juventus.[72]

Although he only played a few games for Portgal U-16 and U-21 national teams, Pauleta is considered a late bloomer in terms of development in football. He recently made his debut in both the first division and the national team at the age of 24 to go on to become Portugal’s top scorer. He scored his first two senior international goals at the age of 26, later than Didier Drogba for the Ivory Coast national team.[73]

mathematics [edit]

George Green, who worked as a miller and had no formal training in mathematics, published his famous An Essay on the Application of Mathematical Analysis to the Theories of Electricity and Magnetism in 1828 at the age of 35.[74]

Alexandre-Théophile Vandermonde began studying mathematics at the age of 35 and began publishing in the same year.

Eugène Ehrhart began publishing in mathematics in his 40s and completed his PhD at the age of 60.

Marjorie Rice, an amateur mathematician with no formal training in mathematics beyond high school, only began studying tessellations in December 1975; Since she was born in 1923, she was either 51 or 52 when she started, depending on her birthday. She discovered four new types of tesselating pentagons in 1976 and 1977.

Caspar Wessel published his only mathematical work at the age of 54.[79][80]

Roger Apéry proved Apéry’s theorem at the age of 63.

Yitang Zhang, a Chinese-born American mathematician, came up with a theorem similar to the twin prime conjecture at the age of 58.

music [edit]

Musical abilities are more or less inherent in almost everyone.[81] However, those who develop it at a high level are generally encouraged to play an instrument or sing at an early age. Late bloomers in music are generally composers or performers who rose to prominence later in life but demonstrated musical ability much earlier.[82]

Anton Bruckner is an example of a late bloomer in music. Although he played church organ in his twenties, he did not become a composer until his forties.[83] Singer K.T. Oslin released her first album at the age of 47, which was a huge country music hit.[84] Another example is Al Jarreau, who released his first album at the age of 35.[85] AERIA recording artist Colie Brice released his 10th solo album, Late Bloomer, at age 39. Elliott Carter only reached compositional maturity with his Cello Sonata (1948) when he was 40. César Franck and Leoš Janáček also matured late as composers: Franck at 56, with his Symphony No. 1 in D; and Janáček at 50 at Jenůfa” (1904). Iannis Xenakis did not begin compositional studies with Messiaen until he was 30. Leonard Cohen did not release his first album until he was 32. Doug Seegers did not become famous until he was 61–62 years old.

Filmmaking[edit]

Manoël de Oliveira

Although many filmmakers begin directing in their late 20s or early 30s, many of the most notable directors in film history waited until their mid or late 30s to direct their first feature film. These directors include Nicholas Ray, Alain Resnais, Edward Yang, Michael Mann, Frank Tashlin, Robert Aldrich, Satyajit Ray, Anthony Mann, Terry Gilliam, Jerry Lewis, Tsai Ming-liang, Don Siegel, Melvin Van Peebles, Gaspar Noé, Lloyd Bacon, Alexander Kluge, Mrinal Sen, Jean-Marie Straub, Ida Lupino, Sam Mendes, Alexander Payne, Ang Lee, and Jacques Rivette. David Mamet directed his first feature film at 40, having already achieved success and won a Pulitzer Prize for playwriting. Éric Rohmer made his first feature film at age 39, although it was not until his late 40s that he became a full-time filmmaker.

Many well-known directors started even later: Robert Bresson, Jacques Tati and Takeshi Kitano made their first feature films at 42; Maurice Pialat at 43; Michael Haneke at 47; Jim Sheridan at 40; and his colleague and collaborator Terry George at 46. Yevgeni Bauer at 48. Clint Eastwood, the oldest Oscar winner for best director, directed his first film at 41.

One of the brightest examples of a late bloomer in filmmaking is Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira. Born in 1908, he worked sporadically in the film industry from the 1930s. In 1941 he completed his first feature film entitled Aniki-Bobo. Due to circumstances for which he was not responsible (financial difficulties, family business), he did not finish his second feature film until 1971 (at the age of 63). Two years later he completed his third feature film, Benilde or the Virgin Mother (1973). Five years later he made his groundbreaking film called Doomed Love (originally commissioned by Portuguese TV). After his critically acclaimed film Francisca (1981), he became a full-time filmmaker (aged 73).[86]

politics [edit]

It is common for politicians to come to prominence late in life, often after a career in business, law or academia. For example, in the United States Congress in January 2009, out of 540 elected officials, 215 were in the legal profession and 189 in the private sector. The average age of senators was 62 years.[87] In addition, Donald Trump was the first US President to reach the age of 70 before being elected President and the first to reach the age of 70 before taking office,[88] as well as the first US President to do so Assumed office without any prior military or political experience.[89][90]

Some very successful politicians come from more unusual backgrounds.

Václav Havel, born in 1936, was a playwright and writer with an interest in human rights. In the 1980s he became the voice of the opposition in Czechoslovakia and after the collapse of the communist regime in 1989 at the age of 53 he became President of Czechoslovakia.[91] Ronald Reagan, a former actor, labor leader and company spokesman, was first elected to public office at the age of 55 when he became governor of California and was the oldest man to have served as US President before Trump. Melchora Aquino was an uneducated Filipino peasant mother of six who became an activist fighting for independence from Spain. Known as the Grand Woman of the Revolution, she was 84 when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896.[92] Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ career could also fit. Her first notable environmental work came when she was almost 60, founding Friends of the Everglades at 78, and continued until she was in her 100s.

religion [edit]

AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a proponent of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (aka the Hare Krishna Movement) in 1966 at the age of 70. In the last twenty years of his life, Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classical Vedic language scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana) into the English language.[94]

Mary Baker Eddy, born 1821, founded The Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 at the age of 58.[95][96]

Augustine of Hippo, as he detailed in the Confessions, was a frequent loser in battles with lustful passions from the ages of 16 to 32.[97] At the age of 31 he converted to Christianity and began praying to overcome his passions and lusts. [citation needed] Eventually he led a celibate life and became one of the most influential bishops in the history of the Church. citation required]

writing [edit]

Many writers published their first major work late in life. Mary Wesley might be a classic example. She wrote two children’s books in her late fifties, but her writing career only caught attention with her first novel in her 70s, written after her husband’s death.[98] At the age of 74, Norman Maclean published his first and only novel, the 1976 bestseller A River Runs Through It, which fictionalized Maclean’s memories of early 20th-century Montana.[99] Harriet Doerr published her first novel at the age of 74 and received critical acclaim.[100] A perhaps better known example might be Laura Ingalls Wilder. She became a columnist in her forties but did not publish her first novel in the Little House children’s book series until she was in her sixties.[101] Charles Bukowski wrote his first novel in 1971 at the age of 51.[102]

The memoir and novelist Flora Thompson was first published in her 30s but is best known for the semi-autobiographical trilogy Lark Rise to Candleford, the first volume of which was published when she was 63. Frank McCourt did not publish his first book, Angela’s Ashes. for which he later won the Pulitzer Prize until he was 66 years old. Children’s author Mary Alice Fontenot wrote her first book at 51 and nearly thirty more books of which she published several volumes in her eighties and nineties.[103] Kenneth Grahame was born in 1859 and joined the Bank of England in 1879, rising to the rank of secretary. Although he wrote various short stories while working at the bank, it was not until after his retirement in 1908 that he published his masterpiece and final work, The Wind in the Willows.[104] Penelope Fitzgerald began her literary career in 1975 at the age of 58 when she published a biography of the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. She won the 1979 Booker Prize with Offshore, and in 2012 The Observer named her latest novel, The Blue Flower, one of its “Top Ten Historical Novels.”

Richard Adams’ first novel, the best-selling Watership Down, was published when he was in his fifties. The Marquis de Sade published his first novel, Justine, after he turned 51. Raymond Chandler published his first short story at 45 and his first novel, The Big Sleep, at 51. Paul Torday published his debut novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, at the age of 59, after a career in engineering. Jean Rhys is best known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea, published in October 1966 when she was 76 years old.

Aron Ettore Schmitz published his first novel Senilità at the age of 38; however, his breakthrough came when he published Zeno’s Conscience at the age of 61. This was also self-published.[105]

In other areas of writing, the 1920-born historian Gerda Lerner published her first book, The Grimke Sisters from South Carolina, in 1967 when she was either 47 or 46, depending on her birthday.[106][107] Poet Wallace Stevens took up poetry late in life after years of working as an insurance salesman and executive. Although first published at 38, his “canonical works” came out in his fifties.[108] In philosophy, Mary Midgley had her first book when she was 56 years old.[109] Edmond Hoyle wrote a pamphlet on whist in his late sixties. At the age of 70, to avoid unauthorized copies, he wrote the copyrighted A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist.

Der indische Schriftsteller und Universalgelehrte Nirad C. Chaudhuri schrieb seine Autobiographie The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian im Alter von 54 Jahren. Er schrieb eine Fortsetzung davon Thy Hand, Great Anarch! im Alter von 90 Jahren. Er veröffentlichte sein nächstes Werk (und sein letztes Werk) Three Horsemen of the New Apocalypse im Alter von 100 Jahren.[111]

See also[edit]

2 figurative Something that arises or occurs relatively late in a person’s life; (a person’s) development of an ability, interest, etc. later in life.

symptoms

With delayed puberty, you may see the following in your child:

For boys:

Small testicles

No facial hair

Smaller than other boys her age

For girls:

Little or no breast development

Didn’t start her period

Smaller than other girls her age

Prepare for your visit

Bringing the following information to your child’s visit will assist the provider in evaluating your child.

Your child’s growth charts

Parental history (when father started shaving, when mother first got her period, etc.)

All tests performed prior to the visit were related to your child’s growth

during the visit

The doctor will examine your child to determine what stage of puberty they are in based on their current growth and development. They can also order tests for your child, which may include:

X-ray of bone age

blood tests

Leuprolide stimulation test

treatment

Oftentimes, children don’t need treatment—they may just be a late bloomer. These children often outgrow their friends.

For some children, doctors may suggest the following treatments:

For boys: Monthly testosterone injections for three to six months to stimulate puberty.

For girls: They may need to take estrogen replacement therapy for a period of three to six months to kick-start puberty

The provider will discuss with you any follow-up visits your child may need.

Study speaks for late bloomers

Toggle caption Nature

It usually makes parents proud when their children reach a developmental milestone before other children. But when it comes to intelligence, researchers say, the smartest kids seem to have brains that develop later.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been tracking brain development in several hundred children since the 1980s. The children get an MRI scan every few years and computers evaluate the results.

One goal is to find a link between certain changes in the brain and intelligence — at least the kind that can be measured.

That’s why a group of researchers looked at the cortex, or the gray matter that makes up the outer layer of the brain. This is where the so-called high-level thinking takes place.

dr Judith Rapoport says they expected to find evidence that a thicker cortex means higher IQ. But they didn’t.

“When we looked at the very youngest group, 4-8 year olds, it was confusing,” she says. “It looked like it was telling you that thinner brains have higher IQs.”

To find out what was going on, the team looked at how the scans changed as these children grew up. Rapoport says they divided the children into three groups, according to intelligence information.

“The very, very bright third had later development of their cortex,” she says, “so they hadn’t started to peak in the earlier years.”

The cortex in these children began to thin but grew faster and longer. By the age of about 11, it was actually thicker than the cerebral cortex of less intelligent children.

Rapoport says the findings, which appear in this week’s issue of the journal Nature, challenge an assumption made by many parents.

“People are usually preoccupied with everything happening earlier and are able to get things done in a precocious way,” says Rapoport. “This suggests that if things happen later, there could be some very clear benefits.”

She says one benefit is that as the brain grows into puberty, it can be shaped in response to more complicated experiences and ideas.

The research isn’t solving another concern many parents have: the link between intelligence and genes.

Richard Passingham is a neuroscientist at Oxford University in the UK. He says it would be easy to look at this study and conclude that intelligence depends on how your brain grows.

“One might naively think, ‘Oh, that must be because there are differences in genes compared to those with lower intelligence,'” he says.

Passingham says he doesn’t want parents to see this study and think, “Oh dear, that’s all brain, so as parents there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Genes aren’t the only explanation for smart kids, he says. “It is possible that highly intelligent people live in families that also have highly intelligent people, and so there is a richer linguistic and social environment.”

Passingham says that intelligence depends on the right mix of nature and upbringing. Genes could determine whether a child’s brain develops later. But that doesn’t make the kid any smarter if the brain doesn’t get the right kind of stimulation too.

During childhood, Passingham says, every experience helps shape the brain and determine its capabilities. He says the study advocates paying more attention to a child’s environment, not less.

“They would advise teachers, parents and everyone else to create as stimulating a social and linguistic environment as possible,” he says.

This can be especially difficult for children who are very intelligent. Studies suggest that talented and gifted children are more likely to drop out of school because of boredom.

What is delayed puberty?

Puberty is the time when your body grows from being a child to being an adult. You can tell you’re going through puberty by the way your body changes.

Usually, these changes begin between the ages of 8 and 14 in girls and between 9 and 15 in men. This large age range is normal and is why you develop a few years earlier (or later) than most of your friends.

However, sometimes people cross this normal age range for puberty without showing any signs of physical changes. This is called delayed puberty.

Doctors can usually help teenagers with delayed puberty develop so they can catch up with their peers.

What are the signs of puberty?

If you are a girl you will notice that:

Your breasts are developing

Your pubic hair is growing

You’re having a growth spurt

You get your period (menstruation)

Her body gets curvier with wider hips

If you are a man, you will notice the following:

They begin to grow pubic and facial hair

You’re having a growth spurt

Your testicles and penis will get bigger

Your body shape will change – your shoulders will broaden and your body will become more muscular

These changes are caused by the sex hormones –

testosterone

estrogen

What happens with delayed puberty?

in boys and in girls – which your body produces in much larger quantities than before.

Signs of delayed puberty in men include:

the penis and testicles do not get bigger by the age of 14

Genital growth lasting more than 5 years

Short stature compared to their peers who are now growing faster

In girls, signs include:

no breast development at age 14

does not start menses within 5 years of breast growth or at age 16

What Causes Delayed Puberty?

Puberty can be delayed for a number of reasons.

family history

Most of the time it’s just a pattern of growth and development in a family. A man or a girl may find that his parents, uncle, aunt, brother, sister or cousin also developed later than usual. This is called a constitutional delay (or late bloomer) and does not usually require treatment. These teenagers develop normally over time, just a little later than most of their peers.

medical problems

Medical problems can also delay puberty.

Some people with chronic diseases like diabetes, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, or even asthma can go through puberty at an older age. That’s because their illnesses can make it difficult for their bodies to grow and develop. Proper treatment and better control of these conditions can help make delayed puberty less likely.

such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease or even asthma can go through puberty at an older age. That’s because their illnesses can make it difficult for their bodies to grow and develop. Proper treatment and better control of these conditions can help make delayed puberty less likely. A malnourished person—not eating enough or lacking good nutrients—may also develop later than their peers who eat a healthy, balanced diet. For example, teenagers with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa often lose so much weight that their bodies cannot develop properly. Girls who are extremely physically active can be late developers because their level of exercise keeps them so lean. Girls’ bodies need enough fat before they can go through puberty or get their periods.

Delayed puberty can also occur because of problems in the pituitary or thyroid glands. These glands make hormones that are important for the growth and development of the body.

Some people who don’t hit puberty at the normal time have problems with their chromosomes, which are made of DNA that contains our body’s blueprints. Problems with the chromosomes can interfere with normal growth processes. For example:

Turner syndrome occurs when one of a woman’s two X chromosomes is abnormal or missing. This causes problems with a girl’s growth and with the development of her ovaries and the production of sex hormones. Women with untreated Turner syndrome are smaller than normal, may not go through puberty in the usual way, and may have other medical problems.

occurs when one of a woman’s two X chromosomes is abnormal or missing. This causes problems with a girl’s growth and with the development of her ovaries and the production of sex hormones. Women with untreated Turner syndrome are smaller than normal, may not go through puberty in the usual way, and may have other medical problems. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with an extra X chromosome (XXY instead of XY). This condition can slow sexual development. Guys who have it are usually tall for their age, may have learning problems, and have other medical problems.

How is delayed puberty diagnosed?

The good news is that doctors can usually help teenagers with delayed puberty develop more normally if there is a problem. If you’re concerned that you’re not developing as you should, ask your parents to make an appointment with your doctor.

The doctor will:

Pass an exam.

Take a medical history, including whether others in your family had a similar growth pattern.

Ask about medications you are taking.

Check your growth chart to see if there is a pattern that indicates a problem.

The doctor might also:

Order blood tests to look for thyroid, pituitary, chromosomal, or other problems.

Order a bone age x-ray to see if your bones are maturing normally.

How is delayed puberty treated?

Doctors often fail to find an underlying physical problem. Most late puberty teenagers develop just a little later than average and will catch up.

When doctors find a problem, they may send a teen to a pediatric endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in treating children and adolescents with growth problems, or another specialist for more testing or treatment.

Some late bloomers find it difficult to wait for the onset of puberty changes. Therefore, doctors may offer hormone treatment:

Boys may receive a short course of testosterone (usually a monthly injection for 4-6 months) to kick start the changes of puberty.

Girls may be given low doses of estrogen for 4–6 months to begin breast development.

After treatment ends, a teenager’s own hormones usually take over to complete the process of puberty. If not, the doctor will discuss long-term sex hormone replacement.

Coping with delayed puberty

It can be difficult to watch your friends grow and develop if the same isn’t happening to you. You may feel like you’ll never catch up. Even if the doctor or your parents assure you that everything will be fine, it’s hard to wait for something that can affect how you feel.

If you’re feeling depressed or having problems with school or other issues, talk to your mom or dad, your doctor, or another trusted adult about finding a counselor or therapist to talk to. They can help you sort through your feelings and suggest ways to deal with them.

Delayed puberty can be difficult for anyone to accept and deal with. But it’s a problem that usually gets resolved. Ask for help if you have concerns about your development.

As a church homeschooler and part-time preacher’s daughter who came out of the womb basically scared, I was pretty much destined to be a late bloomer. I didn’t get my first real kiss until I was 17 (it was awful, like kissing a thirsty camel, by the way); I was uncomfortable in my own skin until my teenage years fully passed (oh, the outfits I would wear if I could travel back in time!); and I had such constant self-doubt that it literally hurts my heart to remember it. But now that I’m a quarter of a century old, I’m really glad I bloomed so late. Yes I was a pretty awkward girl growing up and yes I’m still kind of a nut. But I love how my late bloomer made me the person I am today.

I’m not trying to say that blooming on time isn’t good either, but being a late bloomer brings its own character-building challenges and rewards that you’ll only understand once you’ve been there. So if you’ve ever been one of those kids who stayed home Friday nights watching Nickelodeon while everyone else was out and letting their hormones take control of their bodies, then this list is for you. Here are ten things only late bloomers will understand.

1. You were the last of your friends to lose your virginity

I can’t tell you how many sex stories I listened to before I had one of my own to tell. My friends were all talking about their latest hype and I was just sitting in the corner having an inner monologue like, yeah, yeah, I relate to that. It doesn’t make me feel out of place at all. To be fair, if you decide to keep your V card until age 21 like I did, you have to overcome the fact that your friends are having sex at a normal age and want to talk about it.

2. …but you don’t regret waiting for the sex

Although I felt kind of crazy for waiting so long to have sex, I’ve never regretted it. My first sexual experience was everything I wanted. It was romantic, it was with someone I loved and still love, I felt respected all the time and most importantly there was no pressure. It was 100 percent on my terms and I will always remember it fondly.

3. Your awkward phase lasted way too long

I don’t know how else to say this, but it took me a long time to get hot. Most of my girlfriends were curvy as hell in high school, while growing up was mostly nose, knees, and bad haircuts.

4. …but it taught you to own your individuality

Being in what felt like a perpetual awkward phase during my early teens taught me that looking unique is somehow awesome. Yes, I had a big nose and curly frizzy hair – but you know who else had that? Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep and many other uniquely beautiful women.

5. You didn’t misbehave until your late teens/early twenties

I didn’t smoke my first full cigarette until I was 18, the first time I got drunk was 19, and I didn’t lose my virginity or smoke weed until I was well into 21. One wild night for me in high school was texting my friends and watching Good Burger. Seriously, the cheekiest thing I’ve ever done was drop an F-bomb on occasion.

6. …and when you did it, it wasn’t because of peer pressure

When I finally started behaving like a normal young person after college, I didn’t do it out of a sense of obligation or because I thought it was cool. All of my drinking, smoking, and sex happened because I wanted to and was ready. Not because I felt like I had anything to prove in any way.

7. Your parents still talk about what a good kid you were

The keyword here is goods. I’m obviously a pagan now and I’m not exactly trying to hide it, but my parents still tell me how grateful they are that I only went insane after I moved out. No amount of paganism has kept me from being responsible and hardworking in their eyes.

8. …and your friends are still talking about how daft you were

Unfortunately, I’ll never live out my Lord of the Rings obsession, or the fact that I didn’t knowingly masturbate until I was 17, or the fact that even during sleepovers in high school I still refused to get drunk . But it’s okay, my past stupidity is killing me as much as my friends.

9. You are very familiar with Urban Dictionary

After a while you just learned to save yourself the humiliation of asking for definitions and just turn to the shameless teacher who is UD.

10. They don’t set a time limit for life experiences

The best part about being a late bloomer is that you don’t feel pressured to bloom. You’ve taken your time with all of life’s big moves so far, so you don’t feel like you have to rush the ones that lie ahead. For example, people are always asking me about marriage and babies, and while I think I’ll probably want those things someday, I’m in no rush to make them happen until I’m good and ready.

Because we late bloomers don’t force life – we just let it happen.

Images: The Princess Diaries/Facebook; Giphy/ (10)

Were you a late bloomer?

I’m sure you’ve never thought about how the age at which you got your first period affects your life expectancy, but according to a new study it absolutely does.

Based on research from the University of California, San Diego, women who were later first visited by Aunt Flo were more likely to live longer. So this is great news for all the late bloomers out there.

Researchers analyzed data from 16,000 postmenopausal women collected by the Women’s Health Initiative and found that it’s not just the age at which you get your first period that matters. The onset of menopause is also an indicator of overall health and longevity.

Research showed that the onset of menstruation at age 12 is the best predictor of longer life. The same applies to menopause after the age of 50. It also turns out that as the years go by, women are generally starting their periods later, which means longevity is looking good for women across the board.

Another interesting finding was that women who got their periods later were also less likely to develop diabetes or a smoking habit. Regarding other health issues related to period timing, Aladdin Shadyab, one of the lead authors of the study, also said:

Our team found that women who started menstruating later were less likely to have certain health problems, such as for our findings.

So if you were a late bloomer and worried about when your first period would start, it was actually a good thing that she showed up late.

Quotes: Turns out your period reveals something pretty interesting about your lifespan (Metro UK)

c

: expressed more clearly or fully (as in taste or aroma)

In all classic sauces and dressings, good oil is the basis from which delicious aromas blossom.

Delayed puberty in girls occurs when breasts don’t develop by age 13 or menstruation doesn’t start by age 16.

Puberty changes occur when the body starts making sex hormones. These changes usually appear in girls between the ages of 8 and 14.

In late puberty, these changes either do not occur or do not progress normally. Delayed puberty is more common in boys than girls.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON OPPOSITES OF RED BEFORE THEY TURN SCARLET

We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red?

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON OPPOSITES OF RED BEFORE THEY TURN SCARLET

We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red?

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?

later developer

Undoubtedly, they can provide late developer opportunities that may not be available in other organizational forms. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

From his answers today one can only conclude that he is a very late developer in pedagogical usage. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

Curiously, it was more of a late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

I suppose you could call him a late developer – or maybe a late heir. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

We’ve heard a lot about the late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

A late developer is not a late developer, but someone who had reading difficulties in their early stages—an early literacy failure. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

He said there was no such thing as a late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

As for the six-month protection against unfair dismissal, this time is all too often too short for the late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

If they had cast their late developer aside, God knows where they would have been today. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

You may either have the brilliant young man who comes in early or you may have a late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

This gives each child, if they are a late developer, a significant opportunity to place themselves in the right place according to their abilities. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

Often the late developer, the character boy who mysteriously fails the exams, is recognized as the scholastic type. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

It is possible that he is a late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

The term late developer is not just an empty term. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

He had gone to a junior high school and had been posted as a late developer. Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament License v3.0

These examples come from corpora and from sources on the Internet. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinions of the editors of the Cambridge Dictionary or Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

As a church homeschooler and part-time preacher’s daughter who came out of the womb basically scared, I was pretty much destined to be a late bloomer. I didn’t get my first real kiss until I was 17 (it was awful, like kissing a thirsty camel, by the way); I was uncomfortable in my own skin until my teenage years fully passed (oh, the outfits I would wear if I could travel back in time!); and I had such constant self-doubt that it literally hurts my heart to remember it. But now that I’m a quarter of a century old, I’m really glad I bloomed so late. Yes I was a pretty awkward girl growing up and yes I’m still kind of a nut. But I love how my late bloomer made me the person I am today.

I’m not trying to say that blooming on time isn’t good either, but being a late bloomer brings its own character-building challenges and rewards that you’ll only understand once you’ve been there. So if you’ve ever been one of those kids who stayed home Friday nights watching Nickelodeon while everyone else was out and letting their hormones take control of their bodies, then this list is for you. Here are ten things only late bloomers will understand.

1. You were the last of your friends to lose your virginity

I can’t tell you how many sex stories I listened to before I had one of my own to tell. My friends were all talking about their latest hype and I was just sitting in the corner having an inner monologue like, yeah, yeah, I relate to that. It doesn’t make me feel out of place at all. To be fair, if you decide to keep your V card until age 21 like I did, you have to overcome the fact that your friends are having sex at a normal age and want to talk about it.

2. …but you don’t regret waiting for the sex

Although I felt kind of crazy for waiting so long to have sex, I’ve never regretted it. My first sexual experience was everything I wanted. It was romantic, it was with someone I loved and still love, I felt respected all the time and most importantly there was no pressure. It was 100 percent on my terms and I will always remember it fondly.

3. Your awkward phase lasted way too long

I don’t know how else to say this, but it took me a long time to get hot. Most of my girlfriends were curvy as hell in high school, while growing up was mostly nose, knees, and bad haircuts.

4. …but it taught you to own your individuality

Being in what felt like a perpetual awkward phase during my early teens taught me that looking unique is somehow awesome. Yes, I had a big nose and curly frizzy hair – but you know who else had that? Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep and many other uniquely beautiful women.

5. You didn’t misbehave until your late teens/early twenties

I didn’t smoke my first full cigarette until I was 18, the first time I got drunk was 19, and I didn’t lose my virginity or smoke weed until I was well into 21. One wild night for me in high school was texting my friends and watching Good Burger. Seriously, the cheekiest thing I’ve ever done was drop an F-bomb on occasion.

6. …and when you did it, it wasn’t because of peer pressure

When I finally started behaving like a normal young person after college, I didn’t do it out of a sense of obligation or because I thought it was cool. All of my drinking, smoking, and sex happened because I wanted to and was ready. Not because I felt like I had anything to prove in any way.

7. Your parents still talk about what a good kid you were

The keyword here is goods. I’m obviously a pagan now and I’m not exactly trying to hide it, but my parents still tell me how grateful they are that I only went insane after I moved out. No amount of paganism has kept me from being responsible and hardworking in their eyes.

8. …and your friends are still talking about how daft you were

Unfortunately, I’ll never live out my Lord of the Rings obsession, or the fact that I didn’t knowingly masturbate until I was 17, or the fact that even during sleepovers in high school I still refused to get drunk . But it’s okay, my past stupidity is killing me as much as my friends.

9. You are very familiar with Urban Dictionary

After a while you just learned to save yourself the humiliation of asking for definitions and just turn to the shameless teacher who is UD.

10. They don’t set a time limit for life experiences

The best part about being a late bloomer is that you don’t feel pressured to bloom. You’ve taken your time with all of life’s big moves so far, so you don’t feel like you have to rush the ones that lie ahead. For example, people are always asking me about marriage and babies, and while I think I’ll probably want those things someday, I’m in no rush to make them happen until I’m good and ready.

Because we late bloomers don’t force life – we just let it happen.

Images: The Princess Diaries/Facebook; Giphy/ (10)

Key Takeaway: The term “late bloomer” refers to a child who hits puberty later than their peers.

Constitutional growth retardation, the medical term for this condition, runs in families.

Late bloomers will catch up in growth and be normal adult size, although this may take a little more time and patience.

FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

People often use the term “late bloomer” to describe someone who is later on the right track. It could refer to someone who later than their peers begins to excel in school, sports, or other activities.

But a “late bloomer” is also a disease. Accordingly, there is a medical term for it – constitutional growth retardation. In this situation, a late bloomer is a child who does not hit their growth spurt at the same time as their peers or who does not enter puberty. If your child seems like they’re not hitting their growth spurt, here’s everything you need to know about late bloomers.

What is a late bloomer (constitutional growth retardation)?

A late bloomer is a child who:

Experiences her adolescent growth spurt later than her peers

Comes later in puberty

Is smaller than their peers until they reach their growth spurt

There are several other medical terms for this condition, including:

Constitutional delay in growth and puberty

Constitutional short stature in prepubertal children

Constitutional growth retardation

All of these terms mean the same thing, but it’s a bite to say. So many healthcare providers and caregivers use the term late bloomer.

Most late bloomers start out as infants and toddlers of average or even above average height. But around their third or fourth birthday, their growth slows. While they still grow a normal amount each year, it’s often not as much as their peers. As a result, over time, they become smaller than their peers.

Your child’s healthcare provider uses a growth chart to track how your child’s growth compares to their peers over time. You can get a copy of these growth charts from the CDC website if you would like to track your child’s growth.

When do teenagers usually have their growth spurt?

Teenage girls experience their pubertal growth spurt between the ages of 10 and 14. Teenage boys reach their growth spurt about 2 years later, usually between the ages of 12 and 16.

The pubertal growth spurt is the largest growth spurt a child will experience in their lifetime. They will gain about 20% of their adult size during this growth spurt.

Because teenage boys reach their growth spurts 2 years later, they get another 2 years of prepubertal growth. On average, they also grow a bit more during this growth spurt. Because of this, adult males are, on average, larger than adult females.

What makes someone a late bloomer?

Genetics play a large role in determining a child’s growth potential. It also plays a big role in determining when a child will hit puberty.

If your child has constitutional growth retardation, chances are you had one too. Among children with constitutional stunting, 66% have at least one parent who was a late bloomer.

You were probably a late bloomer if you hit puberty later, experienced your own growth spurt as an older teenager, or didn’t get your first period until you were 14.

Your child’s doctor will ask about family history to find out if your child is a late bloomer. They also measure your height and use that to calculate your child’s expected adult height.

They will also ensure that there is no other reason why your child is not growing as expected. Your child’s provider may:

Order a blood test: Some medical conditions can cause a child to have poor growth. Simple blood tests can check for things like celiac disease, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, and other conditions.

Ask for a urine sample: Chronic kidney disease can lead to stunted growth. A urine sample can show signs of chronic kidney disease.

Take a wrist X-ray: A bone age is an X-ray looking at the growth plate in the wrist. It can help confirm constitutional growth retardation. A child grows when the growth plates close. A very open growth plate is a sign that a child has a lot to grow. This is called “delayed bone age”. This means that although your child is 14 or 15 years old, their bones look more like those of a 10 or 11 year old. So eventually your child will hit their growth spurt, but it may take a while longer.

Do a growth hormone challenge: A growth hormone challenge is a test that can help you determine if your child has growth hormone deficiency or constitutional growth retardation. Most children will not need this test as the other (less expensive) options above provide an answer.

How do I find out my child’s expected adult height?

There are several ways you can determine your child’s expected adult height. However, remember that all of these methods only provide estimates:

Double at 2: This is the simpler method, but it is less accurate. Double your child’s height when they were 24 months old – that’s their predicted adult height. Of course, this only helps if you remember or recorded their size. Your child’s healthcare provider may also have it on file.

Median parent size: Median parent size requires some extra math. Add the height of both genetic parents and divide by two. For a male child, add 2.5 inches to this number. Subtract 2.5 inches from this number for a female child. This is your child’s estimated adult height.

Does my child need treatment for constitutional growth retardation?

Your child does not need treatment for constitutional growth retardation. They will hit their growth spurt, complete puberty, and reach their expected adult size in time.

But it can be hard for a teenager to feel left behind as they watch their peers go through puberty. Try to calm your teen down and offer support. In some cases, a brief dose of testosterone therapy can help spur growth. However, this is only an option for male children.

Conclusion A child’s growth is an important indicator of health. But some children are “late bloomers” or have constitutional growth retardation. These children will eventually reach their expected height, slightly later than their peers. To find out if your child is a late bloomer, your child’s doctor may order blood tests, a urine sample, and bone age (a type of X-ray). Children with constitutional growth retardation don’t need treatment—just patience and reassurance. They will go through puberty and reach their expected adult height slightly later than their peers.

Was this page helpful? thumb_up_outlined thumb_down_outlined