Pediatric Screenings for Every Age and Every Stage
It’s that time again – kids have started another year of school, activities are ramping up, and schedules are getting full. It’s also the time to schedule your children for their next well visit. Wellness visits are essential at every age and every stage, from babbling babies to terrific tykes and from charming children to texting teens. Harbin Clinic Pediatrics encourages parents to schedule annual appointments for their children to help prevent future potential health problems and ensure that their growth and development are on track.
BABIES AND TODDLERS
As young bodies are rapidly changing, a full exam with their pediatrician includes an assessment of their vitals, growth markers, a full physical exam, age-specific immunizations, and developmental health screenings. Newborns are strongly recommended to see their pediatrician eight times before they turn 16 months.
“Milestone and annual health screenings are important for your child to be able to track their health at every stage of development. Along with recommended screenings and immunizations, wellness check-ups are a necessary step to completely understanding a child’s overall health,” says Dr. Henaro Sabino of Pediatrics Rome Davis Sabino.
Harbin Clinic Pediatric providers perform child health screenings at specific wellness visits to detect a wide range of potential diseases and conditions. Annual wellness exams are essential for a child’s healthy development both inside and out.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Parents are well-versed in the importance of key wellness visits for their babies, toddlers, and growing kiddos, but sometimes these exams fall to the wayside as children get older. It’s important to remember that wellness visits are essential at every age, not just for toddlers and tykes.
Early childhood health screenings look for signs of blood disorders, developmental delays, autism, heart defects, and other health complications. Detection of these problems at an early age allows for the development of an effective treatment plan and can help prevent potential issues that could have lifelong implications as a child gets older.
“A child’s body is constantly growing and changing, so bringing them in for health screenings at least once a year is the best way to stay up-to-date on their development. Being able to see your child allows us to pick up on social behaviors, milestones, and learning development, which are all key in order to track growth,” explains Dr. Katherine Fields of Pediatrics Cartersville.
TEENAGERS
For children ages 12-18, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for conditions such as obesity, hypertension, hearing and vision impairment, high cholesterol, psychosocial/behavioral concerns, and STIs.
Teenage years can sometimes be difficult and overwhelming for a child. As an adolescent goes through puberty, they’ll likely experience new emotions or sporadic hormones, and there is a significant benefit to having a health advocate they can trust. A pediatrician can better guide them through their physical, mental, and sexual health since they have had an engaged role in their health background.
“As a child grows, my role as a pediatrician changes. It is important for a child to understand the importance of their health as they develop, and it is my job to portray that to the child and their parent,” says Dr. Robersteen Howard of Pediatrics Rome.
Harbin Clinic Pediatricians believe in caring completely for patients at every age and through every stage of life. From babbling babies to graduation caps, Harbin Clinic pediatricians encourage annual wellness visits to manage the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children.
To learn more about health exams for your child and what is recommended based on your child’s age, visit Annual Health Exams for Children. To schedule an appointment with a Harbin Clinic pediatrician, visit Harbin Clinic Pediatrics.
