When your child is diagnosed with asthma, the doctor may send him or her to a respiratory therapist. The therapist will walk you and your child through the ways to use an inhaler, a nebulizer, and things that can be done to help your child strengthen their lungs. The guide below walks you through a few tips to ensure that your meeting with the respiratory therapist is as helpful as it can be. 

Make a List of Questions to Ask

Many people have a lot of questions that they want to ask the therapist, but they forget all of them when they show up at the appointment because they are often so anxious and nervous. If you have questions, write them down. This allows you to have peace of mind that anything that is worrying you will be fully explained by a professional.

Take Notes When Things Are Explained

If the devices your child needs to use are completely foreign to you, don't be afraid to take pictures and notes so that you can make sure that you remember what needs to be done when the time comes. The therapist will more than likely allow you to practice putting the nebulizer together and taking it apart in front of him or her so that they can help you with any issues that may arise. Even if you think you fully understand how to work everything, taking pictures can serve as a good reminder when you have to set everything up on your own later on down the road.

Be Sure You Understand When Each Device Needs to be Used

You need to be sure that you understand when your child needs to use each device, how long each needs to be used, and how to clean the devices after they are used. Understanding these facts will ensure that you and your child can be relaxed and calm when using the devices. A nebulizer can be a bit overwhelming the first few times you use it, but if you take the time to practice putting it together and taking it apart, you should get the hang of it in a very short period of time.

Be sure to get the email and phone number for the therapist so that you can ask questions later on down the road if needed. Be sure to let your child ask questions during the appointment, as well to ensure that they are as comfortable as they can be too. If you have more questions, talk to a respiratory therapist like those at Corner Home Medical.

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