Do Adolescents Need Yearly Physical Examinations?

Wondering if your pre-teen or teen needs to continue with routine check-ups?  The answer is yes, they absolutely do! Proper health care helps establish a good foundation for growth and development, both physically and emotionally. Not only are there age-specific issues to address during the adolescent years, but occasionally, a child who appears healthy has a concealed medical problem. Routine check-ups can help locate and treat these issues before they progress.

Routine adolescent check-ups may include the following:

Complete physical examination

Blood pressure screening

Hearing screening

Vision screening

Anemia screening

Urinalysis

Immunizations

Health education

…and more.

Well-checkups are recommended yearly for children ages 10 and up. Adolescent girls will be instructed on how to properly perform monthly breast exams (adolescent girls will likely be referred to a gynecologist when needed), while adolescent boys will learn how to complete a testicular self-exam to look for lumps. Furthermore, the teen years can be confusing as sexual issues and concerns arise. Yearly visits with their doctor provide adolescents with the opportunity to discuss these issues so that all their concerns can be addressed. 

Staying current on vaccinations is another reason why adolescents need to have annual well check-ups. Routine doctor visits ensure that teens are up-to-date on immunizations such as Acellular pertussis tetanus, diphtheria boosters, and the HPV vaccine among others.   

While it may not seem as pressing, an annual physical examination by your family's pediatrician is a significant part of your adolescent's health care. Back-to-school time is a suitable time for scheduling your adolescent’s well check-up each year. 

Sawgrass Pediatrics provides the highest quality diagnostic, preventative, and treatment services for adolescents in Boca Raton. Because well check-ups allow tracking of your child’s physical, emotional, and educational growth, the pediatricians at Sawgrass Pediatrics encourage parents to keep up with routine check-ups, vaccines, and physicals.