Questions for the Physician/Specialist

Here are some questions that you may want to ask any specialist whom you consult about your child’s hand/arm development. You may wish to seek multiple opinions from a range of specialists, such as pediatrician, orthopedist, geneticist, or plastic surgeon.

• What caused the limb difference?
• Is the difference part of a larger syndrome?
• What are some functional problems that my child is likely to encounter?
• What can we do to help our child develop and improve function?
• What types of medical interventions might be helpful? What are the benefits versus downsides of those interventions? 
• If there are significant downsides, would you do this intervention for your own child? 
• What other kinds of therapies could we pursue?
• Does your office have a list of mentor families whose children have undergone similar interventions or who have similar hand/arm differences so that we can ask about their experiences?
• How often should we arrange follow-up appointments/check ups?
• Is there a local support group affiliated with this facility and do you know how often they meet?

© 2024 Laura Faye Clubok, MS, OTR/L, On The Other Hand Therapy