Typical appearance of achondroplasia symptoms are apparent at birth:

• short stature
• short limbs, proximal extremity (upper arm and thigh)
• large appearing head
• skeletal (limb) abnormalities
• Abnormal hand appearance (trident hand) with persistent space between the long and ring fingers

• marked kyphosis and lordosis (spine curvatures)
• waddling gait
• prominent (conspicuous) forehead (frontal bossing)
• increased inward curve of lower back making the buttocks appear more prominent (lordosis)
• increased outward curve of upper back making back appear slightly hunched (kyphosis)
• head appears disproportionately large for body
• hypotonia
• polyhydramnios (present when affected infant is born)
• bowed legs

All people with achondroplasia are much shorter than the average person. . The average height of an adult male with 52 inches, or 4 feet 4 inches, and the average height of an adult female with achondroplasia is 49 inches, or 4 feet 1 inch.