CASE STUDY 5

Comment and Questions

15 Nov 2003: BL PLH = 16,0 PBI = 2,2

These two audiograms (see the first one) represent the Baseline performed on 10 Oct 2003. The PBI was 2,2 and it thus seemed compensatable. A subsequent diagnostic audiogram on 29 January 2004 measured a PBI of 0,3 (thus not compensatable). The question now remains: Which one of these two audiograms should be regarded as the "baseline" for future reference? This decision is more complicated than case study 4, because the diagnostic was performed after the cut off date of 16 November 2003. It is advised that the better audiogram should be used as baseline - the diagnostic audiogram - and that the date of the initial baseline audiogram can be used. Therefore, the diagnostic audiogram can replace initial baseline and the date of the baseline (now with a PLH of 13,9%) could still be 10 October 2003.