How To Talk To Your Doctor

If you've ever felt like your doctor isn't listening to you, it may be true. Studies have found that doctors let patients speak for only 23 seconds on average before cutting them

off; in one University of South Carolina study, primary care patients were interrupted just 12 seconds after the physician entered the exam room. When there's less doctor-patient

dialogue, patients are not only more likely to leave the office frustrated, but they're also at greater risk of being misdiagnosed. Want to make up for the time crunch? Try these

strategies to maximize your office visit and talk so your doctor will listen. MAKE A HUMAN CONNECTION Before you dive into your concerns, break the ice with a greeting or even a joke.

"Doctors are people first, and we're much more receptive when a patient begins a conversation with a simple, 'How's your day going?' " explains Katie Neuendorf,

M.D., medical director for the Center of Excellence in Health Care Communication at the Cleveland Clinic. STAY ON MESSAGE Most doctor visits last 13 to 16 minutes, according to

Medscape's 2016 "Physician Compensation Report," so after your greeting, get to the point. "Oversharing information unrelated to your medical concerns takes time away

from tailoring a treatment plan," Neuendorf says. TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH You can't expect a doctor to listen to your complaints, or adequately resolve them, if you're not

forthright. Tell your doctor about your fear of falling, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction or changes in sleep patterns. REHEARSE BEFORE YOU GO If you're uncomfortable discussing

embarrassing topics, write a script and rehearse it in front of a mirror. Use words like incontinent, bowel movements and diarrhea so that when you're talking to the doctor, you'll

be more comfortable saying them aloud. DON'T ACCEPT 'IT'S JUST AGING' If you have a symptom that has come on suddenly, keeps you up at night or interferes with your

daily life, be specific about the changes you've noticed. "For example, you could say, 'I've always been on time for appointments, but lately I'm forgetting them

entirely. Is there a test you can do to rule out a more serious cognitive issue?' " says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and

Reproductive Sciences at Yale Medical School.