We’ve all heard the phrase “Be slow to speak, quick to listen.” It’s ancient advice that’s easy to overlook in a modern world full of new information and endless distractions. But when it comes to healthcare, active listening is an essential skill. Taking the time to listen carefully is a critical part of an effective diagnosis. It’s how a qualified medical professional begins to fill the top of the diagnostic funnel with the information needed to guide them down the path to the root cause of your problem. Taking the time to listen and fully understand your story beforehand makes every other part of the process faster and more efficient.
Why you need to find a doctor who listens to you.
There are many reasons because doctors should listen to their patients. Listening is obviously how your doctor will learn about your concerns and symptoms. But active listening goes far beyond that.
It makes for an interesting, productive discussion.
A doctor who actively listens also asks better questions. Understanding your condition goes beyond cataloging symptoms. Your doctor needs to get to know you, your interests, your expectations, and why you are in the room talking with him.
It builds trust between you and your doctor.
It’s much easier to trust your doctor when you know they have your best interests at heart. Listening is the gateway to empathy and understanding. Knowing that you have been heard and understood is the first step in building trust.
Updates and creates buy-in.
As we said, listening leads to good questions, which leads to an active discussion. It is the cornerstone of learning about diagnosis and treatment options. The discussion and education that comes from asking the right questions helps you and your doctor arrive at an agreed upon path forward that you are both committed to.
How to prepare for your date.
Beyond finding a doctor who really listens to you, there are things you can do to make sure you’re ready to maximize your time with them.
Gather all relevant information before your appointment. – Be ready to talk about what’s going wrong. Not just what is bothering you, but also its effects. What prevents you from doing? Why do you want to feel better? Do you have any goals driven by better health? Be prepared to help your doctor get to know you and your routine a little better. Don’t be afraid to write all of this down before your appointment so you don’t forget any of it. And don’t forget to include details like symptoms, any medications or supplements you’re taking, and any recent treatments you’ve received.
Take time to talk about what’s important to you. – Your lifestyle, as well as other social and behavioral factors, can have a huge impact on your health. But recent poll shows that only about half of patients talk to their doctors about things like diet, sleep and exercise. Don’t minimize the impact of these factors on your overall health.
Ask questions. – As we mentioned above, listening combined with good questions is rocket fuel to get things done better faster. Do your part and make sure you fully understand your options and any resulting treatment decisions. Some simple but really helpful questions you can ask include:
“What does this mean?” – Get clarity on anything you don’t fully understand.
“What would you say…?” – Be sure to mention everything you planned to cover in your appointment.
“What should I do if…?” – Get information on what to do if something changes after your appointment.
“Why should I…?” – Validate your treatment plan with your doctor. It will only work if you stick with it. Make sure you are fully prepared to do this.
What to do if you feel you are not being heard.
If you don’t feel good about where things are at the end of your appointment, if you don’t feel like you’ve been heard, there’s still time to ask a few final questions to gain clarity and confidence. Ask, “What could this be?” or “What do I do if symptoms get worse?” If the additional questions don’t help, by all means, get a second opinion before taking action.
The Kaldas Center is here to help.
Listening is a core value at the Kaldas Center because we understand its role in opening the door to an engaged and fruitful conversation that leads to effective treatments. If you’re not being heard or need a second opinion on issues ranging from painful periods, painful intercourse, bleeding, infertility, bladder leakage, pelvic pain and more, we’re here to help. Call the Kaldas Center at 920-886-2299 to start a conversation about your health and find a path to a normal life.
