Short people's experiences sought

Dr Tom Shakespeare, left, is leading the research

Researchers have begun a study of how restricted growth affects people in the North of England.

The three-year project is being led by Dr Tom Shakespeare, a sociologist at Newcastle University, who describes himself as a "short person".

He claims people with the condition are frequently stared at and mocked.

The survey, backed by the Northern Genetics Service and the Restricted Growth Association, hopes to challenge public prejudice of the condition.

Dr Shakespeare said: "You might think that short people end up in the circus or on the pantomime stage, but we know that people with restricted growth do all sorts of jobs.

"I'm an academic, but there are doctors, farmers, teachers or lawyers - we can do most anything."

Quality of life

He said people with restricted growth do not often associate with others with the condition.

"We achieve a lot in different fields but many of us get stared at and mocked," he said.

"You end up thinking you're an exhibit in a freak show, and for a lot of people it keeps them in their homes, it stops them going to places that sort of thing might happen.

"In order to challenge it we need to explain more about what our lives are about and get information and data on the everyday experiences of people with restricted growth."

The project will explore the quality of life for adults with skeletal dysplasia.

It will use a variety of methods to investigate the natural history of restricted growth conditions, and their impact on quality of life.

Dr Shakespeare says the research team had prepared a questionnaire which it is making available to people with the condition.