Aug 28, 2009 9:50 pm US/Eastern
Health Watch: Tweens Should Talk To Doctors Alone
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
As your child hits the tween years, you know a lot of changes are about to take place. One you may not be so keen on is giving them private time with the doctor. Turns out though that closing the exam room door may help your child.
When kids turn double digits, it's time to let them have a private talk with their physician.
"She can ask any private questions about her changing body and she begins to learn how to interact with a doctor on her own," says Janet Siroto, Executive Editor of Good Housekeeping.
Moms like Carrie Shay get the message. Shay understands her daughter Chloe might want to ask things she's not yet comfortable talking about with her parents.
"I want her to get the best care she can get, so if that means she needs to be in the room with the doctor by herself, its time for her to do that," she says.
Adolescent medicine experts suggest kids begin seeing their physician privately between the ages of 11 and 13. Parents should sit in at the beginning of the appointment, but when it's time for the exam, they should politely excuse themselves. This gives the doctor a chance to develop a relationship and the child to ask questions she may be embarrassed to ask in front of her parent.
"It's a little more comfortable talking to him if he won't say anything to my mom. It's not like it's a big secret, but it makes me feel a lot better," says Chloe Shay.
Questions about risky behavior might be on your mind, but unless your child's safety is in danger, the physician probably won't break doctor-patient confidentiality to tell you what was discussed.
"We ask questions about children's moods to find out whether or not there are periods of unhappiness that they might not be willing or able to share with other members of the family," says Dr. Andrew Racine, Director of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Montefiore.
Although it may make moms and dads uncomfortable, your doctor is one of their greatest advocates, and the more open teens can be, the more they get out of the visit.
A parent's presence is especially important in the waiting room. You can help out with paperwork and provide family history information. After the appointment, you should ask both the doctor and your child about the conversation, but keep it general.
Prior to this year's appointment, call the doctor ahead of time so you're on the same page and prep your child so the solo time is not a surprise.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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