How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Listen

Learn these tips before your next appointment

Sometimes our home health care patients in Canon City have a hard time discussing different subjects or issues with their own doctors. These conversations can be difficult, yet sometimes there is simply a communication gap. Understand this gap and get to know how to talk to your doctor in a way that he/she really truly listens. 

If you've ever felt like your doctor isn't listening to you, it may be true. Studies have found that doctors let patients speak for only 23 seconds on average before cutting them off; in one University of South Carolina study, primary care patients were interrupted just 12 seconds after the physician entered the exam room.

When there's less doctor-patient dialogue, patients are not only more likely to leave the office frustrated, but they're also at greater risk of being misdiagnosed. Want to make up for the time crunch? Try these strategies to maximize your office visit and talk so your doctor will listen.

Make a human connection

Before you dive into your concerns, break the ice with a greeting or even a joke. "Doctors are people first, and we're much more receptive when a patient begins a conversation with a simple, 'How's your day going?' " explains Katie Neuendorf, M.D., medical director for the Center of Excellence in Health Care Communication at the Cleveland Clinic.

Stay on message

Most doctor visits last 13 to 16 minutes, according to Medscape's 2016 "Physician Compensation Report," so after your greeting, get to the point. "Oversharing information unrelated to your medical concerns takes time away from tailoring a treatment plan," Neuendorf says.

Tell the whole truth

You can't expect a doctor to listen to your complaints, or adequately resolve them, if you're not forthright. Tell your doctor about your fear of falling, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction or changes in sleep patterns.

READ MORE: How To Talk To Your Doctor - AARP http://bit.ly/2redBp8

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