With the first day of school just a few weeks away, it’s a good time to arrange annual check-ups.

Dallas County Public Health Navigator Ann Cochran says in addition to mandatory sports physicals and required immunizations, a checkup with your physician and dentist can be vital in getting in front of any health concerns before they escalate, “Some of the things that can be identified early on are things like curvatures of the spine that maybe a parent wouldn’t even notice, but during a physical exam, a doctor can pick up on. That can be caught early, and be corrected before it changes the child’s gate to the point where they’re off-center, or they’re not developing normally.”

An annual check-up also helps pediatricians track growth and progress over time, which allows them to get ahead of any underlying health issues. Cochran also recommends getting your kid’s vision checked during these appointments as poor vision is an avoidable obstacle for students as they return to the classroom. Those without substantial health coverage can reach out to the Dallas County Public Health Navigation program to help find what works best. You can listen to more about back to school check-ups with Wednesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Cochran.