How Do You Talk to Your Child About Their Diagnosis?

Diagnosis

Neuropsychologist Dr. Marie Van Tubbergen, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan’s Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology Pediatric NeuroRehabilitation Program advises parents to let the child lead short, casual discussions that focus on their immediate concerns or questions and leaves the door open for a lifetime of talks.

“Parents are often relieved when they realize it is not necessary or even helpful to try and provide all the important information about a diagnosis in one perfectly orchestrated conversation. Framing these topics as a lifelong education about health allows for more meaningful exchanges that provide accurate in formation that is timely and relevant for the child.”

Here are some of Dr. Van Tubbergen’s tips on how to cultivate a long term conversation about diagnosis, function, and quality of life:

• Use questions such as “What have they told you in school about Autism? Have you ever wondered about it?” to judge interest in the topic
• Find out what the child already knows before introducing new information
• Validate or reshape the child’s understanding of their diagnosis and prognosis
• Let the child set the tone for discussions with their questions and interactions
• Consistently provide brief and accurate information about diagnosis in age-appropriate language
• Give basics about prognosis and interventions
• Treat your child as a participant in their care
• Use support groups, multi disciplinary community, and outpatient settings to promote increased awareness of individual abilities along with a sense of not being the only child challenged with a disability

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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2011 Magazine