But in the last couple of years, I’ve noticed an increase in what I’ll call touchy-feely questions. Take these, for example, from a couple of the forms I need to complete prior to see someone who specializes in vertigo (along with my commentary in italics):
A form about hearing
- Does your hearing cause you to feel embarrassed when you meet new people? This is the very first question on a form about hearing. That just blows my mind, that potential embarrassment would be the first question on the list.
- Do you have difficulty hearing or understanding co-workers, clients or customers? Now this question makes sense—but why is it the third question on this form?
- My tinnitus has led me to avoid noisy situations
- My tinnitus has led me to avoid social situations
- My tinnitus has made me unhappy. Snort.
- My tinnitus has led me to cry. Seriously??
- Annoyed
- Depressed
- Angry
- Irritable
- Confused
- Helpless
- Distressed
- Hopeless about the future
- Panicky
- Tormented
- Despair
I mean, really. Couldn't these forms just ask if this condition has negatively affected my life? Am I so stupid I need eleven separate questions asking me what I've just said in one?
Have you noticed this too? If you have, does it bother you? Or am I just a cold, unfeeling brick?
3 comments:
MDs have taken a lot of criticism for treating only one aspect of the physical problem, so some of them are trying to be more holistic. I don't think this is entirely a bad trend, although some of them obviously aren't sure how to go about it.
I should have scanned the form and posted it. I mean, yes, I think there's room for some physicians to be more holistic but these forms seem to be more about selling stuff.
OK yes, I'm finally catching up on old posts....
Where I get annoyed: Will the treatment be different if I say YES to "distressed" but NO to "panicky"? Because for ME, tinnitus has made me cry. But, not helpless. Annoyed, but mostly that's because I'm sleep deprived. So, fix the friggin' tinnitus and call me happy. Sheesh.
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