What to say and not to say at a disability doctor?

When attending an appointment with a disability doctor, your communication is crucial to the outcome of your claim. Be honest, specific, and consistent about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, and avoid downplaying your condition or saying anything that could be misinterpreted as an admission of being "fine" or "okay."

What to Say at a Disability Doctor

Your goal is to provide a clear, accurate, and comprehensive picture of your health condition and its limitations.

• Be Honest and Detailed: Describe your symptoms, pain levels, and limitations truthfully. Don't exaggerate, but also don't minimize your experience. Provide specific examples of how your condition affects your ability to perform daily activities.
  • Examples: Instead of "My back hurts," say, "My lower back pain is a sharp, burning sensation that rates a 7/10 on most days. It worsens when I sit or stand for more than 15 minutes, making it difficult to do household chores or even prepare a meal."
• Focus on Functional Limitations: Explain precisely what you cannot do, or what you struggle to do, because of your disability. This includes physical, mental, and cognitive limitations.
  • Mobility: "I can only walk a block before I need to stop due to severe leg pain and numbness."
  • Dexterity: "I struggle to grasp small objects or button my shirts due to numbness and weakness in my hands."
  • Concentration: "I find it hard to focus on tasks for more than 10-15 minutes, which impacts my ability to read or follow instructions."
  • Social Interaction: "My anxiety prevents me from being in crowded places, and I often cancel social plans due to panic attacks."
• Discuss Your Pain Accurately: Describe the type of pain (sharp, dull, throbbing, burning), its intensity (using a 1-10 scale), its frequency, and what makes it better or worse.
• Explain Your "Bad Days": Doctors often ask about an "average day." It's important to describe how your condition limits you on an average day, but also mention that you have good days and bad days, and that your bad days may be more severe or frequent.
• Be Consistent with Your Medical Records: Ensure that what you tell the doctor aligns with the medical history documented by your treating physicians. The disability doctor will review your records.
• Talk About Medications and Treatments: Mention all medications you are taking, their dosages, and any side effects. Discuss past treatments you've tried and whether they provided relief or not.
• Highlight Side Effects: If your medications cause drowsiness, nausea, cognitive fog, or other side effects that impact your ability to function, clearly state these.

What Not to Say at a Disability Doctor

Certain statements can inadvertently harm your disability claim.

• Avoid Saying You Are "Okay," "Fine," or "Pretty Good": Even if said out of habit or politeness, phrases like "I'm okay," "I'm fine," or "I'm pretty good" can jeopardize your claim. When you are there for an assessment of your condition, you must be honest about your complaints, symptoms, and other details of your condition. This is not the time for casual pleasantries about your health.
• Do Not Exaggerate or Lie: Dishonesty will be detrimental to your claim. Disability doctors are trained to detect inconsistencies. Stick to the truth, even if it's difficult to admit your limitations.
• Don't Downplay Your Symptoms: While you shouldn't exaggerate, don't minimize your pain or struggles either. This is your opportunity to clearly communicate your reality.
• Avoid Offering Legal Opinions: Do not tell the doctor that you believe you are "disabled" or "can't work." That's a determination for the Social Security Administration or other disability programs to make based on medical evidence. Focus solely on your symptoms and functional limitations.
• Don't Discuss Past or Future Work Unless Asked: Only discuss your work history or potential for future work if prompted, and always frame it in terms of your medical limitations. For example, "My condition prevents me from performing tasks requiring prolonged standing, which was essential for my previous job as a retail associate."
• Do Not Engage in Small Talk About Physical Activities: If the doctor asks about hobbies or weekend plans, avoid mentioning activities that seem inconsistent with your claimed limitations. If you engage in an activity, explain how your condition impacts it (e.g., "I tried to walk around the park, but I had to sit down frequently due to pain").
• Do Not Argue or Be Defensive: Remain calm and cooperative, even if you feel the doctor is misunderstanding you. Politely clarify your points.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Thorough preparation can significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively.

• Gather Relevant Medical Records: While the doctor should have access to some records, bringing copies of recent test results, doctor's notes, and medication lists can be helpful.
• Keep a Symptom Journal: For a few weeks before your appointment, track your symptoms, pain levels, limitations, and how they fluctuate daily. This provides concrete examples to share.
• List Your Medications: Include dosages and any adverse side effects.
• Write Down Key Points: Before your appointment, make a list of the most important symptoms and limitations you want to convey. This ensures you don't forget crucial details under pressure.

Key Tips for the Examination

• Maintain Consistency: Your statements to the disability doctor should be consistent with your medical records and prior statements made to your treating physicians.
• Be Specific: Vague statements are not helpful. Provide concrete examples and details.
• Answer Questions Directly: Listen carefully to each question and answer it truthfully and to the point. Do not volunteer unnecessary information.
• Dress Appropriately: While not directly related to what you say, dress in a way that allows you to move freely for any physical examination, and don't dress in a manner that suggests you are able-bodied if you are not.

Why Your Words Matter

The disability doctor's report will be a key piece of evidence in your disability claim. Their observations and your statements will be used to assess the severity of your condition and your residual functional capacity (RFC) – what you can still do despite your impairments. Clear, consistent, and honest communication ensures that the report accurately reflects your limitations, which is vital for a fair determination of your eligibility for disability benefits.