The following are suggested ages for health checks. Check at any other time if there are parental or other concerns

Birth to
6 weeks

6 - 10 months

12 months

18 months to 2½ years

3 - 3½ years

4 - 4½ years

Thyroid blood tests

Routine Guthrie test

Thyroid blood tests including antibodies

Thyroid blood tests including antibodies

If your area has introduced fingerprick blood tests these should be done every year

Growth monitoring

Length and weight should be checked frequently and plotted on Down's syndrome growth charts. (see page 9 onwards)
Head circumference should be checked at each routine medical check.

Length and weight should be checked at least annually and plotted on Down's syndrome growth charts.

Eye check

Visual behaviour.
Check for congenital cataract

Visual behavior.
Check for squint.

Visual behaviour.
Check for squint.

Orthoptic examination, refraction and ophthalmic examination.

Visual acuity, refraction and ophthalmic examination.

Hearing check

Neonatal screening, if locally available

Full audiological review (hearing, impedance, otoscopy)

Full audiological review
(hearing, impedance, otoscopy) annually

Heart check and other advice

Echocardiogram 0-6 weeks or chest X-ray & ECG at birth and 6 weeks

dental advice

FROM AGE 5 TO 19 YEARS

Paediatric review

Annually

Hearing

2 yearly audiological review (as above)

Vision / Orthoptic check

2 yearly

Thyroid blood tests

At age 5 years, then with 2 yearly venous surveillance or annual fingerprick