Child Health and Disability Prevention Program: CHDP

The CHDP Examination

What is a CHDP Examination?
The CHDP Examination is a full exam of a child or youth that includes a range of services including a health history, measurements, physical exam, review of dental, nutritional & developmental status, screens of hearing & vision, tests for anemia, kidney problems, tuberculosis & lead exposure, immunizations and health education. Occasionally, additional tests are included.

What are these services?
Health History: The health care provider will review the child's prenatal birth history and health throughout the child's life. This includes allergic reactions and immunizations (shots). The family history is also reviewed for any conditions that could possibly affect the health of the child.

Measurements: Different measurements are taken at different ages. These include weight, height, head circumference and blood pressure.

Physical Exam: The health professional must look, feel or listen to all parts of the child's body. The family can help the health professional by asking to have certain areas of the body checked more closely, if the family is worried about something especially. For example, a birth-mark or a rash may be concerning a parent.

Review of Dental, Nutritional & Developmental Status: The health professional needs to be sure that a child's teeth, growth and development are normal. By asking questions, checking measurements and watching the child, the health professional can see if a child has a problem in these areas. Families should get advice and answers to questions in these areas.

Screens of Hearing & Vision: Before age three years, the health professional asks questions and checks the child's hearing and vision. After three years of age, all children must be tested for normal hearing and vision at each visit.

Tests for Anemia, Kidney Problems and Tuberculosis & Lead Exposure: Children can have health problems that parents and health professionals cannot see. So, tests are done at different ages to make sure that a child does not have one of these problems. To check for anemia, a drop or two of blood is needed. The urine is checked for kidney problems and diabetes. Lead, which is a toxic mineral, is tested in the blood. A skin test (PPD is taken to check for an infection with tuberculosis.

Vaccinations: Vaccinations are the same as immunizations. They are the shots, or injections, given to children and adults to prevent certain diseases, such as polio or measles. There are many vaccines given through the CHDP Program. Please click on CHDP Immunization Schedule to obtain more information.

Health Education: The health professional doing the exam should give the child and family information that is helpful in the care and support of the child's health and development. The CHDP program calls this "Anticipatory Guidance" and believes this to be a very important part of the visit to the doctor. Families should receive answers to their questions. Health professionals should tell families about any changes that the child may have between one check up and the next. The advice families get will keep them from worrying about whether or not the child is growing normally, and also helps them keep from having problems in the future. Most health professionals have little books and handouts that families can read to get more information. Please click on Health Education and Community Resources to discover more on your own.

Are CHDP Examinations the same as the regular check up a child receives?
Yes is the simple answer. However, the CHDP Examination must include all the services mentioned above.

Does a child receive the same service at every CHDP Examination check?
A child's health needs change over time; so, the CHDP Examination changes too. There is an established schedule based on a child's age and health status. Please click on CHDP Periodicity Schedule for a table listing the dates of exams and the items that are required for each age. The CHDP Immunization Schedule lists all the recommended immunizations and the dates for receiving them.

What if a problem is found during the CHDP Examination?
If the health professional finds a problem during the exam, the child and family may get special advice, and/or a treatment (such as a prescription) and/or a referral for a different exam or service by a different health care provider. Click on CHDP Referral Process for more information.