Fukuoka City will begin trial health checks for five-year-olds starting in June, aiming to identify developmental disorders early and provide timely support. Currently, child health checks are conducted at four intervals: 4 months, 10 months, 18 months, and 3 years. The new 5-year-old check will be offered to volunteers at three municipal health centers across 12 sessions until September. The program includes interviews and group activities to assess communication and instruction-following abilities. Applications will be accepted via the city’s website starting May 15. Mayor Soichiro Takashima emphasized the goal of continuous support through school entry. Fukuoka joins seven other municipalities in the prefecture implementing similar checks this fiscal year. Experts note the importance of early screening—not as diagnosis but as a foundation for sustained inter-agency support—and highlight the need for trained evaluators and sufficient medical personnel. Source: Fukuoka City
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