Well-Child Exams for Adolescents: What Changes as Children Grow

As your child grows up, his wellness visits change a bit in structure. Therefore, if your kid is now getting into adolescence, you may wonder what to expect at well-child exams at A to Z Pediatrics, serving New Port Richey, FL, and the nearby region. Our doctors, Dr. Haravu Lokesh, Dr. Rupal Desai, Dr. Monica Porcelli, and our physician assistant, Tarah Savino are here to provide the care your children need as they grow.

Scoliosis Screening 

Scoliosis is an issue with spinal curvature that tends to arise before or during puberty, especially around the time of growth spurts. As a result, part of the visit will include a scoliosis evaluation, which consists of your child bending frontward, and a practitioner assessing his spine's curvature. 

Vaccination Administration 

Though this is the same as when your kid was younger, part of your child's visit once he’s older will include vaccine administration. However, the vaccinations your child needs are slightly different than when he was younger. For one, he’ll need a Tdap booster at around 11 or 12 years old. Other vaccinations given or available before and during your child's teen years include meningococcal and HPV vaccines. 

Mental Health Check and Awareness

As your child gets older, life can get stressful with peers, school, and all other kinds of responsibilities. Sometimes, that stress weighs heavily on a kid's mind and leads to anxiety or depression. We'll screen for mental health issues and educate you on prevalent concerns and how to take care of your little one's mental health. 

Sexual/Reproductive Health Education 

During these visits, we'll discuss sexual education with you and your child. The conversation will include talking about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and how to prevent them. For females, we'll discuss the option of birth control and can bring up the discussion at future visits, if necessary. 

At well-child exams in New Port Richey, FL, we'll also discuss reproductive health by asking about your daughter's menstrual cycle and ensuring everything is normal with it. For boys, we'll talk about the signs of puberty and use an orchidometer to assess the testicles' volume to ensure they're growing properly.

Drug/Alcohol Discussion 

One of our practitioners will discuss drug and alcohol usage with you and your child. You'll learn what to look out for, and he'll learn about the dangers and become aware of the possibility of peer pressure. 

Find the Right Pediatrician Near You Today

Dr. Lokesh, Dr. Desai, Dr. Porcelli, or our physician assistant, Tarah Savino of A to Z Pediatrics, serving New Port Richey, FL, and the surrounding area, offer well-child exams to assess that your children are growing and developing properly and provide you and them with education on prevalent concerns for their age. Call us at 727-375-5242 to schedule your child’s visit today.