You watch your child grow and change quickly from year to year, sometimes in ways that surprise you. Young people should receive medical care specifically for them and their needs, which may be different from adults. Our health professionals offer specialized care for children from ages 8 through 20; a time of rapid growth and psychological changes. Our professionals have experience at getting teens to talk, even those who ignore their own parents. For more information on adolescent care, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online.
Adolescent Care
Q & A
Why do children require specialized adolescent health care?
Teenagers go through some of the biggest changes they will ever experience. During this developmental stage, it’s important for teens to have a resource where they can ask questions without embarrassment.
Yearly physical exams also help prevent the development of chronic diseases. Medical professionals who see your child every year can keep track of changes and identify symptoms early on.
What kinds of services does adolescent health care include?
The staff at NY Family Docs provide their younger patients with services that include:
- Comprehensive physical exams
- Preventive measures and treatment for chronic issues like childhood diabetes, childhood obesity, and more
- Education about sex-related issues and screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Education about substance use, abuse, and addiction
- Identification of behavioral issues and learning disorders (which will help you when talking with school teachers)
The more pre-teens and teenagers know about their own development, the more they can recognize when things are wrong. Then they can become more active in their own healthcare into their adulthood.
What to expect at an appointment for adolescent health care?
During an appointment, the staff will do a regular physical exam along with screenings for developmental disorders, eating disorders, depression, and more of the issues that affect teenagers today. Older teens will get STD tests if appropriate, and girls will be referred to a gynecologist.
What is included in adolescent health care that isn’t in a regular physical?
An important component of adolescent care is counseling, where the staff will ask teenage patients about behavioral or emotional issues they’re experiencing and help them navigate these problems.
The staff will also discuss common risky behaviors like:
It can be difficult for teens to talk about issues like this with their families, but these discussions are important to have. To respect the privacy of all patients at NY Family Docs, any consultation about sex, birth control and alcohol and drug use is kept completely confidential. That helps your child feel comfortable answering questions and ensures they will receive the proper care and guidance.