Common Questions Doctors Ask About a Child's Health

Symptoms

• If the child is ill, the doctor will want to know as many details as possible. Child development experts with the Kids Health website suggest using a pen and paper to write down symptoms and information. You should be as specific as possible. Instead of saying, "My child threw up a few times last night," note how many times the child vomited and at what times. This level of specificity is why writing down the details in a log can be helpful. Keep a record of your child's temperature and a list of any medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, that the child has taken.

Ages and Stages

• If a child is going to a doctor's appointment for a well child check and is not ill, the doctor will most likely ask a series of questions about the child's development. These questions will range from motor skills, verbal skills, social skills and mental health. The doctor will ask questions about certain milestones and achievements. The doctor may have the child demonstrate some of these capabilities in the office. Many offices utilize the Ages and Stages Questionnaire technique. The ASQ is a series of questionnaires outlining common childhood milestones based on the child's age.

Children with Special Needs

• If a child has been diagnosed with a disorder that requires special needs to be met, or if the doctor suspects such a diagnosis, additional questions specific to the disorder may be asked. For example, an autistic child may be more heavily evaluated for improvements in social interaction. Doctors may provide a checklist of questions for you to answer and then ask for more specific details. If the doctor prescribed medications or therapy at a previous visit for the child, expect him to ask whether there have been any side effects from the treatments or improvements.

Family Histories

• To thoroughly evaluate your child's health, the doctor will also ask for information on family histories of disease or illness. Officials with the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services recognize that some diseases such as diabetes or heart disease are passed down through the generations. Doctors will want to know family history information to provide proactive care for the child. The doctor can use this family history to predict what diseases the child may be predisposed to getting and provide suggestions for early detection and prevention.