Health Tests for Children: What Do Your Kids Need?
By Genevieve Cunningham
If you have children, you already know that they are one of the best parts of life. Their laughs, their smiles, their energy. It’s a ton of fun! But having kids is also incredibly exhausting. There are so many things to worry about. Teaching them right from wrong, showing them how to achieve their goals, and perhaps one of the most stressful of all … their health! If you’re interested in finding more ways to put your children’s health first, take a look at these health tests that should be done on a regular basis.
Vision Screenings
It’s true that vision screenings are done in most public schools, but unless your child shows evidence of a problem, it will be a long time in between checks. If you want to ensure that your child is seeing well and catch any potential problems, make regular vision screenings a part of your health plan. Many insurance companies will cover one visit per year, and if not, many optometrists will work with you to get what you need. Your child only gets one set of eyes, so be proactive and protect them.
Growth Checks
Kids usually get growth checks for the entire first year of life. After they turn one year old, they often get growth checks yearly until the age of 5 or so. But kids keep growing even past this age! Take your child to the doctor to get a quick check-up every year. The doctor can let you know whether a problem is present, and they may be able to give you advice about how to ensure healthy living for your particular child. Prevention is key, so make it a part of the plan for your family.
Hearing Checks
Hearing checks are actually relatively rare. Though done at birth, most don’t receive another hearing check unless a problem appears. Even if you don’t want to do it yearly, it’s OK to ask the doctor for a hearing screening from time to time. This might especially be beneficial if you notice your child having difficulty. This may help catch big problems such as hearing loss or disease, or even small problems such as wax buildup.
Keeping your children healthy is an important responsibility, and it’s one that most parents take seriously. If you want to protect your kids’ health for a lifetime, start with prevention. Get these quick and easy health checks on a regular basis, and you’ll be on top of one of the most important aspects of their lives.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Clemente, Calif.
