Age:                74

Gender:          Male

This patient was seen for repeated testing, having had a sudden sensorineural loss in the right ear, treated with intratympanic steroid injection successfully.  His last audio was 12/08.  He was reseen 3/09.  He is now (6/09) complaining of HL AD with bothersome humming tinnitus and episodic true vertigo.  The audiologist underlined “episodic true vertigo” on the case history notes that would be reviewed by the referring ENT immediately afterwards.

□       When an audiologist writes “complains of,” is that pejorative – is the audiologist sort of suggesting the person is whining, or is that just a synonym for “reports”?

Otoscopy

The right ear is grossly abnormal with copious amounts of dried blood.
□       Is the use of the term “grossly abnormal” commonly seen or do you think this term is non-standard as used here?

Case credits – Case by Teri Hamill, PhD, Nova Southeastern University