Get Screened: Health Screenings for Kids and Adolescents

Preventative health screenings for kids are essential to their overall health and wellness. Testing for potential health issues, illnesses, and diseases allows doctors to find problems and move forward with treatment in a timely matter, correcting health concerns before your child becomes an adult.

As your child develops, the screenings they need change, too. It’s important to work together with your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider to serve your child’s social, mental, and physical health needs.

Checklist of Health Screenings for Kids and Adolescents

Infants (Ages 0-1)

In the first year, your infant is still learning to focus their vision, reach out, and learn about the things around them. Their minds and bodies are growing, and screenings will show you any health problems or conditions as early as possible. This allows your infant to start treatment immediately so that many health problems can be reduced and/or prevented. Many of the conditions that may be found in your infant’s screening, if left untreated, have serious symptoms and long-term effects, like nervous system damage and physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

Health screenings for infants:

• Measurements
  • Height and weight
  • Head circumference
  • Blood pressure
     
• Sensory screening
  • Vision
  • Hearing
     
• Developmental/Behavioral health
  • Developmental surveillance
  • Developmental screening
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment
  • Maternal depression screening
     
• Physical Examination
  • Newborn blood
  • Critical congenital heart defect
  • Immunization
  • Anemia
  • Lead
  • Tuberculosis
     
• Oral health
• Anticipatory guidance

Early Childhood (Ages 1-4)

Early childhood screenings test your child’s basic health and developmental areas like vision, hearing, coordination, and social and emotional skills. You’ll learn if your child has any issues that could impact their growth, development, or learning. If your child’s results show health issues, they can be addressed before they begin kindergarten.

Health screenings for early childhood:

• Measurements
  • Height and weight
  • Head circumference
  • Blood pressure
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
     
• Sensory screening
  • Vision
  • Hearing
     
• Developmental/Behavioral health
  • Developmental screening
  • Developmental surveillance
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment
     
• Physical Examination
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Immunization
  • Anemia
  • Lead
  • Tuberculosis
     
• Oral health
• Anticipatory guidance

Middle Childhood (Ages 5-10)

At this age, children are typically healthy, but some could be at risk for conditions like obesity, injuries, asthma, and developmental and behavioral disorders. Preventative screening for your child sets them up for success in school and in their personal lives as they become more independent.

Health screenings for middle childhood:

• Measurements
  • Height and weight
  • Blood pressure
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
     
• Sensory screening
  • Vision
  • Hearing
     
• Developmental/Behavioral health
  • Developmental surveillance
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment
  • Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use assessment
  • Depression screening
     
• Physical Examination
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Immunization
  • Anemia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Lead
     
• Oral health
• Anticipatory guidance

Adolescence (Ages 11-18)

Habits formed during these years will likely affect your child’s health when they are adults. For example, if your child is overweight, reducing his or her weight as a child can help prevent diabetes and heart disease in later years. As your child grows older, we look at preventing injuries, sexual health, and avoiding substance abuse.

Health screenings for adolescents:

• Measurements
  • Height and weight
  • Blood pressure
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
     
• Sensory screening
  • Vision
  • Hearing
     
• Developmental/Behavioral health
  • Developmental screening
  • Autism spectrum screening
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment
     
• Physical Examination
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Immunization
  • Anemia
  • Tuberculosis
  • HIV
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection
  • Hepatitis C Virus Infection
     
• Oral health
• Anticipatory guidance

If your child needs a health screening, Frederick Health is here. Schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician or your primary care provider.