Col Ben Sierra
The purpose of this presentation is to present a summary and discussion of the author’s CMU Distance Learning AuD Program Capstone Project. The case study presents an analysis on a 37-year-old male, active duty United States Air Force (USAF) member of 17 years with a history of bilateral sequential sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). He was seen at Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC), in San Antonio, Texas for evaluation and treatment and subsequently was rehabilitated by mean of a cochlear implant for his left ear and hearing aid for this right ear. The presentation will present a literature review of the patho-physiology, medical treatment options, psychosocial aspects, and intervention strategies of SSHL. It will be followed by a review of the patient’s case history, the assessment results obtained at WHMC and the rationale for cochlear implantation. The presentation will close with a discussion of employment implications, and conclusions.