Have you ever spoken with a doctor who used confusing words and lots of acronyms? I bet you felt more confused after that conversation than when you started speaking with them. I’ve encountered many patients and their family members who have felt confused after speaking with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Medical professionals use a lot of specialized language, sometimes without realizing how confusing it can be. But don’t worry! I’ve got some simple ways to understand what is being said and how you to ask your physician to speak in a way you clearly understand.
Is Medicalese even a real thing?
During their education, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are taught precise medical terms that give clear information about a clinical situation. This way of speaking is called Medicalese. Merriam-Webster defines Medicalese as “the specialized terminology of medical professionals.” Medicalese quickly and accurately communicates specific things about a clinical situation, allowing healthcare professionals to understand what is happening. For example, suppose a patient is having trouble swallowing because of pain. A physician would call that odynophagia, but a physician would use the word dysphagia if the patient had difficulty eating because they couldn’t coordinate a safe swallow reflex. Though both terms mean that a person isn’t swallowing well, they give different reasons behind the issue. Speaking Medicalese is a crucial way healthcare providers communicate with each other, but that same language can lead to patients feeling lost or embarrassed.
I will teach you to follow what your doctors are saying and, if needed, how to ask them to explain things more clearly.
Break Down Big Words
Learning a few common prefixes and suffixes can help determine a word’s meaning. Medicalese refers to the different body systems in a very consistent manner. This list of prefixes tells you which organ system is being discussed. (not an exhaustive list)
- “Cardio” refers to the heart
- “Neuro” relates to the brain and nerves
- “Gastro” refers to the stomach
- “Nephro” refers to the kidney
- “Pulm/Pulmonary” refers to the lungs
- “Derm” refers to skin
- “Heme” relates to blood issues
Next are the prefixes and suffixes that describe how something is going wrong (not an exhaustive list)
- “Itis” means inflammation (e.g., arthritis = inflammation of the joints)
- “Dys” means something is wrong (e.g., dysuria = difficult/painful urination)
- “Hyper” means there is too much of something (e.g., hyperlipidemia = too much fat in the blood)
- “Hypo” means there is too little of something (e.g., Hypovolemic = not enough fluid in the body)
Ask for Plain English & Repeat Your Understanding
Never be afraid to ask your doctor, “Can you explain that in simple terms?” Healthcare providers are used to rephrasing things in more straightforward ways, but sometimes, they need a reminder. Another way to encourage your physician to clarify the conversation is to tell them your understanding of the situation thus far. Ex- “What you said about my condition is ……” Doing this tells your physician how much you understand and allows them to rephrase confusing language, addressing specific points of concern rather than recounting the entire conversation if that isn’t necessary.
Ask about acronyms
Have you ever been told you need an MRI or that you need to be NPO? This alphabet soup of language is a shorthand way of speaking, but it can cause confusion and discomfort if you feel left in the dark. Ask about acronyms and write them down so you can refer to them later. Don’t forget to ask questions about the tests/procedures associated with the acronyms.
Note: Each hospital may have unique acronyms for parts of the hospital, team members, or equipment. Don’t assume every abbreviation refers to a medical term & don’t be afraid to ask.
Use Reliable Online Tools
It is almost impossible to resist temptation and not take out your phone to look up all the medical words you’re unsure of. If you use the internet to get more information, I suggest sticking to trusted Websites to avoid misinformation. Here are three I like:
- MedlinePlus (medlineplus.gov)
- Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org)
- Cleveland Clinic (my.clevelandclinic.org)
Don’t Be Intimidated!
It’s easy to feel nervous when talking to doctors, but remember: You are the most important person in the room when it comes to your health. You have every right to understand what’s happening with your body so you can participate in creating a care plan that works for you.
Final Thoughts
Gaining a basic understanding of some medical terms will help you feel more confident asking questions and being the driver of your medical care. Next time you hear a complicated medical term, take a deep breath, break it down, and ask for clarification. You’ve got this!
