Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early

It's important for your teen to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups. At each Reference well-child visit, the doctor will check your teen's growth and development and examine him or her for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• School and behavioral concerns, such as failing classes or dropping out of school, relationship problems with friends and family that affect home or school life, severe mood swings, lack of interest in normal activities and withdrawal from others, being physically aggressive, becoming sexually active, and using tobacco or drugs.
• Reference Blood pressure Opens New Window. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year. After age 21, he or she can follow the Reference adult blood pressure screening guidelines.
• Reference Hearing.
• Reference Scoliosis.
• Reference Vision.
• Height, Reference weight, and Reference body mass index Opens New Window (BMI).

Reference Dental checkups are recommended for all teens once or twice a year.

Other tests

Other tests may include:

• Reference Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Reference Cholesterol screening.
• Reference Depression screening.
• Reference Hematocrit Opens New Window test, which checks the amount of Reference red blood cells Opens New Window.
• Reference HIV screening.
• Reference Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Reference Testicular cancer screening for boys.
• Reference Tuberculosis screening.
• Reference Type 2 diabetes screening.

For more information on the milestones of teen growth and development, see:

• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years.
• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.