Home Practitioners Advice Getting a diagnosis
4 mins read
Around the time of diagnosis, parents can go through a range of emotions, including shock, denial, grief and anger. Parents can be anxious about how they are going to cope and provide the care their child needs.
Many families say they would like to be able to talk to another family who has a child with a similar condition. Many parents talk about feeling isolated and alone.
Parents will need information about how the condition might affect their child, what support is available and know what the future might hold. This information helps them understand their options, take decisions and feel more in control of the difficult situation they find themselves in.
Families often search the internet for medical information, which can be a source of both good and misleading information. Inaccurate information can add to a family’s confusion and distress and might cause them to lose confidence in the professionals supporting them.
Overwhelming families with masses of information can add to their stress and feelings of inadequacy. It is better to provide an overview of what information and support is available, and where to go for more details if and when they need to.
How a family is supported at this time can impact on how they cope and adjust to their situation.
We have lots of information and resources that you can share with families or direct them towards.
Support groups offer parents the chance to meet other families with a disabled child. Many groups are set up around particular disabilities and rare conditions. Find out more on our parent support group page
Our parent guides are free to download or to order in print from our helpline. The following guides might be helpful to parents during diagnosis:
For more parent guides on topics such as NHS services and understanding your child’s behaviour, see our full publications list [PDF]
We have lots of advice and information on our website that you might want to share with parents, including:
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