Advanced· C1Health & doctor12 min

Discussing treatment options with a doctor

Ask detailed questions about treatment choices, share your concerns and make a shared decision.

The scene

Your doctor has told you that your knee pain is caused by a minor injury. There are two options: physical therapy or a small operation. You want to understand both before deciding.

Speaker A
Doctor
Speaker B
You (patient)

Your goals

  • Ask about the benefits and risks of each option
  • Explain your priorities and concerns
  • Summarize the plan to check you understand

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • treatment option

    one possible way to treat a condition

    What are my treatment options?

  • physical therapy

    treatment using exercise and movement ('physiotherapy' in British English)

    Physical therapy takes about eight weeks.

  • procedure

    a medical operation or treatment

    It's a short procedure.

  • recovery time

    how long it takes to get better

    What's the recovery time?

  • risk

    the chance that something bad might happen

    What are the risks?

  • to weigh up

    to consider the advantages and disadvantages

    I need to weigh up both options.

  • second opinion

    advice from another doctor

    Should I get a second opinion?

  • to go ahead with

    to decide to do something

    Let's go ahead with physical therapy.

Useful phrases

  • What are the pros and cons of each option?

    Comparing choices

  • How long is the recovery time?

    Asking about timing

  • My main concern is …

    Sharing your worries

  • What would happen if I waited?

    Asking about not acting now

  • So, if I understand correctly, …

    Summarizing to check

  • I'd like some time to think about it.

    Delaying a decision politely

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Doctor

    So, as I mentioned, there are two options: physical therapy or a small procedure.

  2. You (patient)

    Thank you. Could you explain the pros and cons of each option?

  3. Doctor

    Physical therapy has very few risks, but it takes about eight weeks to see results.

  4. You (patient)

    And the procedure? How long is the recovery time?

  5. Doctor

    Most people walk the same day, but it takes about four weeks before you can run again.

  6. You (patient)

    My main concern is my job. I'm a nurse, so I'm on my feet all day.

  7. Doctor

    That's important. Physical therapy would let you keep working, with some limits.

  8. You (patient)

    What would happen if I tried physical therapy first and it didn't work?

  9. Doctor

    Then we'd look at the procedure again. Starting with therapy doesn't close that door.

  10. You (patient)

    So, if I understand correctly, I can try therapy first and still have surgery later. I'd like to go ahead with that.

You speak 5 lines as You (patient); Doctor is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Ask a doctor about the pros and cons of two treatment options.

  2. 2. Explain your main concern about a treatment and why it matters to you.

  3. 3. Summarize the plan you agreed on to check your understanding.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. Which question compares two choices?
  2. 2. What does 'recovery time' mean?
  3. 3. Why say 'So, if I understand correctly…'?
  4. 4. What is a 'second opinion'?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: Which are the risks?

    Say: What are the risks?

    Use 'what' for open questions; 'which' is for choosing from a known group.

  • Avoid: I want to think it.

    Say: I'd like some time to think about it.

    'Think' needs 'about' before its object.

  • Avoid: If I will wait, what happens?

    Say: What would happen if I waited?

    In conditional sentences, don't use 'will' after 'if'.

Tips

  • Write your questions down before the appointment so you don't forget them.
  • Tell the doctor what matters most to you, such as work, sport or family.
  • This lesson practices language only. Medical decisions should always be made with your own doctor.

Questions about this lesson

How do you ask a doctor about treatment options in English?

Ask 'What are my treatment options?' and 'What are the pros and cons of each?' Then share your concerns and summarize the plan.

What does 'pros and cons' mean?

Pros are advantages and cons are disadvantages. 'Let's look at the pros and cons' means let's compare the good and bad points.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

All health & doctor lessonsAll advanced lessonsTalkNLearn home