HOUSTON – (Aug. 9, 2010) – As parents stock up on school supplies
and clothes for the upcoming school year, ensuring their child's health should be
at the top of their back-to-school to-do list. For many parents, the weeks preceding
the first day of school is the perfect time to schedule an annual well-child appointment.
"Every child needs a yearly physical," explains
Dr. Leah Matthews, a pediatrician with
Texas Children's Pediatric Associates North Shore. "Many parents believe
that once a child has received all of his vaccinations that an annual well-child
visit isn't necessary, but this simply is not the case. This exam gives parents
a chance to discuss any issues related to their child's health and development as
well as any learning or attention problems that occurred in the previous school
year."
The back-to-school visit also may uncover visual or hearing impairments that, if
untreated, may lead your child not to do as well as he could in school. "Even though
children have their hearing and vision tested during the school year, these quick
tests may not always catch all issues," explained Matthews. "Depending upon what
a pediatrician finds during the vision screening of an annual physical, she may
refer your child to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for further treatment."
If your family is starting off in a new school district this year, make sure you
understand the new school's health requirements and bring this information to your
pediatrician for review. It is never safe to assume that your former school and
your new school will have the same health requirements. Also make sure to completely
and carefully fill out any health-related paperwork with the school.
Parents also can prepare for a healthy school year by ensuring
their child has healthy sleeping habits, eats a nutritious breakfast and lunch,
and has a backpack that, when filled, weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of the
child's body weight.
Get more back to school tips.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing
the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for
its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas
Children's is ranked in the top 10 best children's hospitals by U.S. News and World
Report. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric
care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas
Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes
a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing
on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. Get the
latest Texas Children's news on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/texaschildrens.
