TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving the communication of healthcare professionals with affected children and adolescents
AU - Nordenström, Anna
AU - Thyen, Ute
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Copyright:
Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/6/20
Y1 - 2014/6/20
N2 - All communication with children and adolescents with disorders of sex development (DSD) must be about information concerning the DSD as it is about listening to the individual's thoughts, questions and anxieties. Especially small children are dependent on, and are best reached or helped through the parents. If the diagnosis is made early the child should 'grow into disclosure'. The parents and the child should be involved in a continuous educational interactive process. Sexual maturation and development are part of growing up and becoming an independent adult, which makes it even more important to discuss these matters and the disorder directly with the patient. There are specific aspects of communication inherent to DSD conditions, related to sexuality and, thus, to personal existential issues. Physicians may find this difficult to talk about and may need to overcome avoidance and fear of incompetency. This chapter provides knowledge about the developmental stages of understanding in all children and how the manner in which information can be adjusted to the individual child's maturity level is the basis for successful communication and supporting of the psychological adaptation of the individual and the family to live with the condition.
AB - All communication with children and adolescents with disorders of sex development (DSD) must be about information concerning the DSD as it is about listening to the individual's thoughts, questions and anxieties. Especially small children are dependent on, and are best reached or helped through the parents. If the diagnosis is made early the child should 'grow into disclosure'. The parents and the child should be involved in a continuous educational interactive process. Sexual maturation and development are part of growing up and becoming an independent adult, which makes it even more important to discuss these matters and the disorder directly with the patient. There are specific aspects of communication inherent to DSD conditions, related to sexuality and, thus, to personal existential issues. Physicians may find this difficult to talk about and may need to overcome avoidance and fear of incompetency. This chapter provides knowledge about the developmental stages of understanding in all children and how the manner in which information can be adjusted to the individual child's maturity level is the basis for successful communication and supporting of the psychological adaptation of the individual and the family to live with the condition.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930797840&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000363636
DO - 10.1159/000363636
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84930797840
SN - 1421-7082
VL - 27
SP - 113
EP - 127
JO - Endocrine Development
JF - Endocrine Development
ER -