How do I talk to my caregivers and support people about what role I want them to play in my healthcare?
When I go to see a health professional for the first time, I am usually accompanied by my mother. As my CP can make it harder to verbally communicate with my speech becoming quite laboured, reducing my clarity, I initially…
When I go to see a health professional for the first time, I am usually accompanied by my mother. As my CP can make it harder to verbally communicate with my speech becoming quite laboured, reducing my clarity, I initially get my mother to explain my CP diagnosis and any other relevant background details to the health professional. I then take over ensuring the rest of the conversation is between the health professional and myself; answering any follow-up questions, explaining what brings me to see them and leading discussions on treatments or interventions. Alongside this, before the appointment I make a list of points that I want to discuss and share them with my mother, so in the instance I forget to address something she can prompt me. In saying all of this, in future appointments with the health professional I go by myself knowing that they know me, my health needs, my intellect, my ability to communicate and make my own decisions.