Working with adolescents and young adults to support transition

Transition of medical care is a multifaceted, active process that attends to the medical, psychosocial, educational and vocational needs of adolescents and young adults as they move from child- to adult-centred care. Transition from paediatric to adult services is recognized as an important part of continuous care for young people with disorders of sex development (DSD), just as it is for all young people affected by chronic medical conditions. There is evidence that the medical community is failing to transition young people with DSD safely, the result being that young people are lost to care and not receiving appropriate services into adulthood. To support transition more effectively, healthcare professionals should provide developmentally appropriate care. To accomplish this, healthcare professionals must understand, recognize and address the real-life challenges faced by young people in general, as well as those challenges specific to having DSD. Communication between paediatric and adult services, individual healthcare professionals, young people and their families is necessary for the successful transition of care.