Your son or daughter can be taught to care for his or her own health as an adult. Teaching someone with hemophilia takes a bit more effort. Your reward, though, is peace of mind when they're standing in the doorway of a college dorm waving good-bye to you.

Consider building his involvement with his health care in age-appropriate increments over time. The teenage years can be especially challenging because of his desire to assert his independence. ¹ Help him understand why and how to avoid unnecessary risks. He might need your supervision, education and support to successfully transition to adult life. ²

Here are some items to consider about your teen's understanding and acceptance of his hemophilia, according to NHF:

At ages 13 - 15 he should:

• Be able to name his bleeding disorder and describe the level or severity accurately in his own words
  
• Describe symptoms of a joint bleed and how a bleed should be treated
  
• Name those items he can do himself to be responsible for his healthcare, such as filling out his own infusion records and whether or not he can mix his factor or self-infuse.

By ages 16 - 18 he should:

• Be able to describe why safe physical activity and exercise are important to his health
  
• Accurately list the health care items he should take with him on a trip away from home
  
• Know what might change for him at age 18: his insurance carrier might change and he'll need to sign a release form for his parents to discuss his medical information with his doctor
  
• Begin planning appropriately for his education, vocation or career after high school. ³

Click here to see a complete list of NHF transition review questions.

Get more tips here for helping his transition to adulthood.