Use of patient-specific estimates in patient evaluation and rehabilitation

For a number of years we have been using open-ended questionnaires in the a ssessment of hearing disability and handicap, tinnitus complaint behaviour together with shortcomings and benefits of various rehabilitative intervent ions. More recently we have applied this approach to positive experiences r eported by adults who have developed a hearing impairment and to the use of silence or social withdrawal as a communication tactic. In addition, we ha ve asked individuals to rate the magnitude of each of their listed disabili ties, handicaps, shortcomings, etc., on a scale to provide a qualitative as sessment of each of these elements important to the individual. Such a proc edure can be repeated after the intervention to measure changes in such est imates. This approach can thus highlight for the therapist, those elements of the patients' problems which are being well or poorly addressed and henc e help them to concentrate their effort on the latter. Results obtained usi ng this technique are presented and discussed.