Diagnosis


Communication and perception

The art of diagnosis and determination of the relevant symptoms starts with asking the right questions. For example, if one asks the patient about night sweats, one receives a positive answer, when the patient sweats noticeably at night. If one asks the patient whether he sometimes stretches his legs out of the blanket at night, one might receive positive answers more frequently. One needs practical experience in order to develop and improve the patient communication. Theoretical education or reading books will not be enough to develop these communication skills. It is necessary to intensively deal with your patients. The practitioner has to be aware of his or her own patterns. Personal development on the side of the practitioner is important in order to be able to perceive the patient completely. The personality of the practitioner can affect the ability to perceive certain symptoms. It is easier to recognize symptoms that one experiences or has experienced personally. It is therefore important to realize the actual condition of the patient without involvement of personal patterns.