You can use the bindParam or bindValue methods to help prepare your statement. 
It makes things more clear on first sight instead of doing $check->execute(array(':name' => $name)); Especially if you are binding multiple values/variables.
Check the clear, easy to read example below:
$q = $db->prepare("SELECT id FROM table WHERE forename = :forename and surname = :surname LIMIT 1");
$q->bindValue(':forename', 'Joe');
$q->bindValue(':surname',  'Bloggs');
$q->execute();
if ($q->rowCount() > 0){
    $check = $q->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
    $row_id = $check['id'];
    // do something
}
If you are expecting multiple rows remove the LIMIT 1 and change the fetch method into fetchAll:
$q = $db->prepare("SELECT id FROM table WHERE forename = :forename and surname = :surname");// removed limit 1
$q->bindValue(':forename', 'Joe');
$q->bindValue(':surname',  'Bloggs');
$q->execute();
if ($q->rowCount() > 0){
    $check = $q->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
    //$check will now hold an array of returned rows. 
    //let's say we need the second result, i.e. index of 1
    $row_id = $check[1]['id']; 
    // do something
}