Questions To Ask After A Diagnosis Is Made For Your Special Needs Child
In this article I am going to discuss what questions to ask when you receive a diagnosis for your special needs child. The reason I am going to tell you this is because often the build-up to a diagnosis is fraught with worry and on the day of the diagnosis your mind may be in a million different places and you may be afraid you will forget to ask something.
In this article I am going to give you a few suggestions about the type of questions to ask when you get a diagnosis for your special needs child. These include
€ What do we need to do right now that will best help our special needs child?
€ Can you point us in the direction of resources and services that can help?
€ What sorts of therapies/interventions do they recommend and what is their effectiveness?
€ What should we say to others, sibling children, family members and the child him or herself (if necessary)?
Try to go in to the diagnosis meeting with an open mind, be observant and take notes if necessary. Have a second person with you (family or friend) for moral support and also to serve as an extra pair of eyes and ears to ensure you have understood everything.
Sometimes you will find that having another person there, they may ask different questions that you would not think of asking and this can render very useful information also.
When you receive a diagnosis for your special needs child, you may experience anguish or relief. Each person reacts differently. Having questions written down in advance will help you through those times when your mind goes blank and the other person with you can write down the answers so you will not have to try to take it all in by yourself.
Ask for clarification on anything you are unsure of and if additional questions come to mind later, compile them and ask the receptionist to either pass these questions on to the diagnosing specialist having them call you back or ask to be put through to speak to them by phone.
You will be more reassured if you do this.
This will also allow you time to gather your thoughts and consider if you need to ask for a second opinion, ask for a recommendation for a specialist etc.
It is through asking questions that you will be in a greater position to help your child fulfill their needs and also to give yourself some sort of closure after a diagnosis.
In this article I am going to give you a few suggestions about the type of questions to ask when you get a diagnosis for your special needs child. These include
€ What do we need to do right now that will best help our special needs child?
€ Can you point us in the direction of resources and services that can help?
€ What sorts of therapies/interventions do they recommend and what is their effectiveness?
€ What should we say to others, sibling children, family members and the child him or herself (if necessary)?
Try to go in to the diagnosis meeting with an open mind, be observant and take notes if necessary. Have a second person with you (family or friend) for moral support and also to serve as an extra pair of eyes and ears to ensure you have understood everything.
Sometimes you will find that having another person there, they may ask different questions that you would not think of asking and this can render very useful information also.
When you receive a diagnosis for your special needs child, you may experience anguish or relief. Each person reacts differently. Having questions written down in advance will help you through those times when your mind goes blank and the other person with you can write down the answers so you will not have to try to take it all in by yourself.
Ask for clarification on anything you are unsure of and if additional questions come to mind later, compile them and ask the receptionist to either pass these questions on to the diagnosing specialist having them call you back or ask to be put through to speak to them by phone.
You will be more reassured if you do this.
This will also allow you time to gather your thoughts and consider if you need to ask for a second opinion, ask for a recommendation for a specialist etc.
It is through asking questions that you will be in a greater position to help your child fulfill their needs and also to give yourself some sort of closure after a diagnosis.
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