Adolescent Visit FAQ

What is adolescent health?

At the Northwestern Children's Practice, we offer comprehensive care for adolescents through 18-21 years old. This care includes nutrition assessments, mental health screenings, risk factor assessments, and physical exams. Patterns and habits formed during the adolescent years can have a lasting effect on overall well-being and health throughout adulthood.

What physical health needs are important for adolescents?

Adolescent visits provide an opportunity for children to begin taking responsibility for their own physical health needs, including healthy eating and exercise. Sustaining a healthy diet, being active each day, getting enough sleep, and going to annual physical exams are important parts of every adult’s life and during adolescence, these habits can be fortified. Adolescents with chronic conditions including asthma, depression, and ADHD can also start to learn coping and management skills. This gives an adolescent everything he or she will need to become a healthy adult.

What mental health needs are important for adolescents?

Coping, resilience, and good judgment are all crucial skills that are learned during adolescence. These skills help young people achieve overall wellness and create a basis for positive mental health. While certain mood fluctuations are common, roughly one in five adolescents has a mental health disorder, including depression and anxiety. Keeping an eye out for warning signs and encouraging adolescents to be open about their emotions is critically important. The Northwestern Children's Practice also takes special care to assess LGBTQIA, behavioral, and school issues. We also offer guidance for limiting media time, navigating social media, and addressing cyberbullying.

Are there special areas of care that affect adolescents?

Ensuring the proper development of responsible habits is crucial during adolescence. Young people are far more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors like drunk driving, unprotected sex, drug abuse, and destructive or abusive relationships. Open conversations between the child, family, and medical provider will need to begin during childhood and continue throughout young adulthood.