What action typically signifies a patient communicating their symptoms?

The action that typically signifies a patient communicating their symptoms is making a complaint. This process involves the patient expressing specific concerns or discomfort they are experiencing, which is crucial for healthcare providers to assess and understand the patient's condition. By articulating their symptoms, patients provide essential information that guides diagnosis and treatment planning.

While undergoing a physical examination allows healthcare professionals to gather objective data, it does not inherently communicate the patient's subjective experience of their symptoms. Similarly, filling out medical records serves an administrative purpose and may include factual information but not necessarily the patient's direct communication of their symptoms. Receiving treatment also does not represent the initial expression of symptoms, as it follows the communication of those symptoms to healthcare professionals.