Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called Reference well-child visits. During these visits, your child's doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• Behavioral and school concerns. Depending on the child's age, these may include Reference temper tantrums Opens New Window, grades, relationship problems, and aggressive behavior that hurts others emotionally or physically (Reference bullying Opens New Window).
• Reference Blood pressure Opens New Window. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year, beginning at age 3.
• Reference Hearing.
• Reference Vision.
• Height, Reference weight, and Reference body mass index Opens New Window (BMI).

Regular Reference dental checkups are recommended for all children once or twice a year.

Age-specific tests

Until your child is age 24 months, the doctor will measure the circumference of your child's head.

Until your child is age 5, the doctor will check for Reference developmental problems, including two checks for Reference autism Opens New Window. When your child is ages 10 through to 12, the doctor will check for Reference scoliosis.

Other tests

Other tests may include:

• Reference Hematocrit Opens New Window test, if your doctor is concerned about your child's Reference red blood cell Opens New Window count.
• Reference Lead screening.
• Reference Tuberculosis screening.
• Reference Type 2 diabetes screening.

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

• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months.
• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years.
• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years.
• Reference Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 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.