WORKING WITH SPECIALISTS

You also wonder, how someone can see your child for 20 minutes and make any sort of accurate (diagnosis), or whether a doctor who specialises in one particular disorder, naturally see's it in any child he examines.

There are, however, benefits to playing this game. The fact that the right diagnosis, or sometimes, just a diagnosis that's right enough, backed by a professional, can open doors to many services, therapies and medications you may need to improve your child's life.

Here are a couple of rule's to get the most out of working with your chosen doctor, to your advantage:

• Research - Whether you are going to see a specialist for a diagnosis, a second opinion or you are just looking around for and hoping for answers, check out the possibilities of what could be wrong your child. If you know enough about them, you will be able to ask specific questions, and give an opinion on what you think may be going on with your child.

• Stand firm - The doctor may not be happy that you have an opinion on your child's condition, although they are the medical experts, you are the expert on your child. In order for to do what is the absolute best for your child's future, you have to consider all the information and advise you get, but you have to make sure that what you have to say, is heard. It is easier to do this when you have done your research and know what you are talking about (and what they are talking about, too.)
• Know who you are dealing with - Whether you have been referred to a specialist by a peadiatrician or you are choosing your own; ask around to see if anyone you know has had experience with this particular doctor. Find out what kind of a reputation this doctor has. If what you hear makes you uncomfortable, look for another professional.

• Keep a record of what’s happening - Keep a file with all the reports from the professionals, details of every conversation and your thoughts and impressions. Take it with to any visit. Have all the reports from the specialist sent only to your peadiatrician and yourself; read them and correct anything that is not right before passing them onto the school or therapist.
• Take someone with - As with the peadiatrician visit, take someone with you who knows your child well and can keep them distracted while you are talking to the doctor. Chances are the doctor will spend quite a bit of time talking to you after he has examined the child. To get the most out of the visit, you don't need to be distracted.

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