UNDATED (KTHV) -- If you're a parent, you know how quickly children grow. And along the way there are certain physical milestones they should reach by a certain age.
In this week's Healthy Child report, Doctor Bryan Burke with Arkansas Children's Hospital talks about the importance of regular screenings.
Seven month old Maddie is getting a check up. Just one month ago she went through one of her early and periodic screenings. Doctor Eddie Ochoa with Arkansas children's hospital says it's all part of the EPSDT program.
"It stands for the early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment program. It's a federal program that ensures that low income kids and our Arkansas kids that are on Medicaid or AR kids first, get periodic comprehensive physical exams."
Screenings begin at birth and continue through their teens and usually include blood tests and measurement of weight and height. "Infants under a year can receive up to 5 screenings a year and then we do another set of screenings from 12 months to 3 years and then after kids get in school they should get screened every year."
Ochoa says one of the most ignored screenings is the dental screening since it is sometimes done in a separate location. "So a lot of the kids that come in for a full physical assessment in a physicians office have often had a hearing and vision screen at school lets say, so we've taken care of the medical, hearing, and vision but that dental piece is very hard to get done for most families. "
He says as your child gets older, it's easy to forget about the screenings. "They may think about immunizations, but after immunizations don't happen as routinely after the age of 4 parents may not think about coming in every year for those screenings."
That's why Arkansas Children's Hospital is trying to get the word out about these important check ups. And most times, you don't even have to make a special appointment. If you take your child to the doctor for some other reason, ask the doctor if they have time to do it right then. It keeps the entire ordeal less stressful for you and your child.