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Preparing your special needs child for a doctor's visit

Having a daughter with special needs has made him a better doctor: That is how Dr. Dungan ended our conversation. But it may be a great beginning for you if your child has a doctor visit coming up soon.

Dr. David Dungan, a member of the DuPage Medical Group, is both a pediatrician and an internist. He has been treating children and adults with special needs in his practice for more than 25 years. He is also the father of triplets, two boys and a girl, now all 22 years old. His daughter Kathryn has cerebral palsy with sensory integration dysfunction and cognitive impairment.

As both a physician and a father, Dungan understands the challenges that can accompany the back-to-school visit to the doctor. To some, it may be a routine quick 15-minute, once-a-year trip. For a family with special needs, it may be anything but routine.

Dungan has some suggestions for how to make sure the visit goes smoothly for you and your child, as well as making sure you get everything you need out of the visit.

Insurance and forms

Before the visit, be sure you have your most current insurance information handy.

Find out if your office will let you call ahead to verify everything. If not, be sure to bring it with you.

Also, bring along any forms that you need filled out by the physician. Let the office know you need them filled out when you check in.

If you need to transfer records, hand carry a hard copy in case there was a glitch with the transfer so the doctor has all the information available at the time of your appointment.

Questions, concerns

Most visits are about 15 minutes. A lot has to be covered in that time and the best way to be sure you come out of the appointment with all the answers is to write them down.

Dungan suggests you come prepared with a list of all your questions and concerns.

Think about any changes in behaviors, medications, schedules, etc. Add those to the list. (If easier, take photos of the prescription bottles to capture all the right information).

Also be sure to indicate if there are any changes on your child's medical "team" such as specialists, therapists, etc. Share this information during the nurse's intake even though you will also be sharing it with the doctor.

If your child is a complex patient or there is a lot to go over, let the office staff know that when making the appointment. They may be able to schedule a longer time slot or possibly a second appointment.

Easing anxiety

To ease any anxiety your child may have about a visit with the doctor, Dungan suggests asking Elmo, Doc McStuffins or the Berenstain Bears for a little help.

"There are so many books and videos created specifically to introduce children to what happens when they visit the doctor," he says.

He also suggests role playing with your child.

"Have your child role play the check up with you or a favorite stuffed animal. All along the way, reassure them that the doctor is there to keep them healthy and safe. Speak positively about the visit from beginning to end. And let your child bring a transitional object, a stuffed animal or blanket, that will give them a sense of comfort while there. These are OK for all ages, not just the very youngest children."

Allow enough time

Getting to the office can sometimes be a production, especially with several children in tow.

With infants and toddlers, the logistics of travel and unloading can take some time. Be sure to give yourself enough time to comfortably get everyone situated and not feel rushed.

Managing the waiting

Whether you have one child or all your children, it's a good idea to plan on something to occupy them during the wait in the lobby and the exam room. You'll know best what to bring so your child can be comfortable and busy.

The appointment

Before the doctor arrives, a medical assistant/nurse will be updating the basic history and taking vitals. This is the time to hand over the forms, list of questions, changes, etc.

"Though the visits are short, I like to take a few minutes to establish a rapport with each child," says Dungan. "I might compliment a pretty dress or shoes. Sometimes I give their stuffed animal a checkup too."

He stresses that sometimes it is better not to dive right in. "I want to make sure the child is comfortable before starting. This is an interactive visit."

He also emphasizes the importance of sharing any changes you have noticed. "Whether it is in your child's diet, behavior, medication or really anything else … The more information you share, the more likely we can identify a potential problem," he says.

He goes on to say that even seemingly unrelated items can sometimes be enough of a clue to point in the right direction. If not, it can be enough to know whether or not it is time to be referred to a specialist.

Internet caution

"The internet can be good and bad, especially when it comes to health care," cautions Dungan. "There are a lot of sites with misinformation out there."

He encourages restraint when gathering information from .com and .net sites. He would direct you to .org and .edu sites as generally more reliable resources.

"Though there is quite a lot of information available, your child's health is unique and the information posted can be confusing and lead you down the wrong path," he said.

Dungan strongly encourages you to talk with your doctor to be sure what you find on the internet is indeed relevant to your child's health.

Last thoughts

"Every parent wants the best for their child. We all want our children to be healthy, happy and safe," says Dungan.

As Kathryn continues to grow, Dungan says he is still learning. His final thoughts to families with a child with special needs:

• Advocate for your child. Be the squeaky wheel at your child's IEP, in therapies, doctor visits, and everywhere your child needs to be.

• Know your health plan well. Know where you can go for coverage, therapy, and testing to make sure there are no surprises and you can get to the services your child needs quickly.

• Be ready to laugh. Keep the phone charged and be ready to capture those amazing moments as they come. Enjoy your child.

• Sherry Manschot is the marketing/public relations manager at Western DuPage Special Recreation Association. She can be contacted at sherrym@wdsra.com. More information about WDSRA can be found at www.wdsra.com.

  Sherry Manschot George Leclaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
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