CASE HISTORY TAKING (CRUCIAL STEP BEFORE START TESTING)

Ok, let give us in 2 minutes to read this short post in order to know the reason why we need to take case history from our patient.
 

IMPORTANT OF HISTORY TAKING

a)  It gives necessary information about the nature of auditory complaints 

To know which side of the ear having a problem whether one or both ears, the progression of the of the hearing loss or the current level of sounds that the patient can hear for example.

b) It help the audiologist to plan clinical testing strategies 

Selection of transducer whether headphone, insertphone or loudspeaker or to select which the appropriate behavioural hearing assessment whether play audiometry test, visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) or pure tone audiometry test (PTA).

c) To know the possible factors contributing to the hearing impairment.

d) To know what is likely to be found during the audiologic evaluation. 

Certain types of hearing loss configuration are relate to certain causative factors, for example basically the patient's audiogram will show of high frequency hearing loss with slopping configuration if the patient reported of noise exposure or the usage of ototoxic medication.

e) Consideration for potential use of hearing aid amplification or assistive listening devices.

f) To observe client's behaviour and their speech performance.

g) To build rapport with the patient and/or caregivers.

 References: 
1) Gelfand, S. (2009). Essentials of Audiology. (3rd Edition). New York, NY: Thieme. 
2) Katz, J., Medwetsky, L., Burkard, R. & Hood, L. (2009).Handbook of Clinical Audiology (6thEdition).Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.