Early Disease Detection
Screening, 13 Months to 5 Years
Your child should have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-child visits. During these visits, your doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems. Generally, a child is evaluated:
- At 18 and 24 months of age.
- At 3, 4, and 5 years of age.
These checks are not specifically related to disease detection but are intended to see whether your child is growing and developing normally.
Normal checks include:
- Behavioural concerns such as temper tantrums, thumb-sucking, breath-holding, and aggressive behaviour that hurts others emotionally or physically (bullying).
- Blood pressure screening. Your child should have his or her blood pressure checked annually, beginning at age 3.
- Developmental delay screening, including a check for autism if your doctor suspects your child may have this condition.
- Hearing.
- Vision.
- Height and weight.
If risk factors are present, other tests may include:
Regular dental checkups are recommended for all children.
For more information on the milestones of early childhood growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months and Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: February 29, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine | |
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