How to Properly Talk to Your Doctor

We’ve all had a moment during a doctor’s appointment we’d rather forget! But for a lot of people, that moment arises from not knowing how to communicate with your healthcare professional. As a result you were dismissed or maybe even misdiagnosed, and it made you very wary of heading back to get checked out again. 

Which is why it’s so essential to learn how to talk to your doctor, properly and clearly. It’s a skill we all have to learn, even when you’re a grown adult and have been speaking for most of your life! So be sure to check out the tips below - they’ll go a long way to helping you get the care you need. 

Note down your symptoms beforehand

Keeping a record of the way you feel, and what symptoms you’re experiencing, is a good way to give yourself as much info as possible to walk in with. If you’ve got a written list of what’s going on and what you’re worried about, the doctor won’t have trouble working out what needs to happen next. As soon as you notice you’re not feeling right, put it down on paper or on your phone. Keep it up to date; include any sensations (like pain) and their frequencies throughout the week. 

Be as honest as possible

Being honest about what you’re experiencing is the most direct way to get the help you need. Of course that makes sense, but a lot of patients downplay their symptoms or even outright lie about what’s going on. 

It can be embarrassing to admit some things, and it can be hard to accept that a physical exam may need to happen, so some patients pretend things are better than they actually are. But a doctor is just there to help, and not to judge you. And if you’re someone who’s been afraid of admitting how bad you feel in the past, try to avoid this behavior in the future. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Asking questions about what a doctor means, or what’s going to happen next, and whether or not any more tests are going to be done, is such a crucial step in the healthcare process. When you’re sitting in front of a professional, you’re able to have your own input whenever you need to. 

You can interrupt if you don’t understand something, and ask the doctor or nurse to clarify further. You sometimes just need a bit of courage! Say you’re undergoing a hearing aid evaluation - you can ask when the results will be ready, what treatment is likely needed, and what the healthcare professional themselves thinks of what’s going on. 

Talking to a doctor can often leave you feeling like you didn't quite get the care you needed. However, when you know what a doctor needs to hear, and you’re able to ask as many questions as you need to, you’re much more likely to get the results you want out of an appointment.