Presenting a Diagnostic

Case Study: Key Elements

Diagnostic Audiology: 2015

 Overarching Principles Guiding the
Case Study

Provide the clients key background (main

points from case history) information. Include:
Patients main complaint (why have they come?)
All relevant medical history
Ear/head related aspects
Hearing ability (quiet/noise)
 Overarching Principles

Review your audiological test findings, including a

rationale for any additional audiological tests that
were administered
- that is, beyond what is typically administered
in a basic audiological assessment
o (air, bone, speech, tymp+ reflexes)
 Overarching Principles

Summarize/integrate your case study findings

Upon completion of the individual case study,

Ask the class what they think might be the

underlying issue
 Overarching Principles- contd

After the class has guessed:

Discuss the general hallmarks of the

underlying cause- both in terms of hearing,
physiology, symptoms

State the prevalence of the disorder,

including age, gender, race, etc.
Overarching Principles- contd

Indicate the typical audiological findings

that are encompassed by this underlying
issue

Describe the typical course of treatment

that is provided for this type of medically-
related issue
 Case History Portion
What was the clients primary reason for scheduling the
appointment

Indicate relevant information that might provides cues

to the possible contributing etiology to the observed
audiological signs:
Family/Birth history
Medical history, including any recent medical
evaluations
Ear/Hearing related issues
History of Noise Exposure
 Case History Portion
Information that describes the present
communication difficulties, including:
Clients (and possibly family members)
insight into communication difficulties and a
possible cause
Any previous hearing testing
Any history of hearing aid/listening device
usage
 Interview Observations

Any difficulty in the way the client interacted

with you, including:
Level of voice/pace of speaking that the
client indicated to be preferable
Asking for repetitions
Relied heavily on speechreading
Any head tilting to one side?
 Initial Hypotheses
Based on the case history/interview, what was your
initial hypotheses to:
Degree of hearing levels
Possible hearing level configurations
Better ear, if any

** For purpose of this case study presentation,

hypothesize the degree/type of hearing related issue
(i.e., sensorineural, conductive, mixed) for your student
audience, but not the underlying cause
 Audiological Test Findings
Display your clients audiometric findings (indicate
the type/degree of hearing loss evident)

Indicate the SRT, Word Recognition Scores and

associated test level(s), MCL, Speech Discomfort
Level

Tympanometric and Acoustic Reflex findings (reflex

decay, if appropriate)

Any additional audiological test procedures

administered (such as OAE, ABR)?
Audiological Test Findings- contd

Note any inconsistency in the test findings

If so, what did you do to derive more consistent

findings (including any additional test
procedures and subsequent test findings)

** You can show this in one audiogram or a series,

depending on the case study you have chosen and
what you want to show.
 Interpretation of the Test Findings

By relating the various test findings, indicate if

the speech and immittance results (as well as
any additional test procedures are
administered) are consistent with the
audiometric patterns observed

Are the test findings consistent with the case

history information?

Are the test findings consistent with listening

difficulties, as expressed by client and possible
family members?
 Ask Your Classmates
What is the Underlying
Issue?
 Hallmarks of the
Underlying Cause
Description
Anatomically/physiologically
Is it typically unilateral or bilateral?

Client Characteristics
Typical onset and time course
Prevalence across age, gender, race
Typical symptomatology noted
 Hallmarks- contd
General Audiologic Pattern
Audiometric configuration
Speech findings
Immittance findings
Other test findings if applicable (OAE,
special tests)

Typical intervention(s) that are usually

implemented (audiological, medical)
 PowerPoint Presentation
Pay attention to the key points in rubric:
Nice Design
Font size of 20-24 font
Bring bulleted points up one at a time
Space of 12 18 pts between points
Ensure white space; better to have more slides than
crowded
 PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation Style:

Speak clearly

Make sure that you do not speak too quickly

Glance at the slides and try not to read word for word and
expand information

Face the audience