ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with speech-language evaluations. Forgetting about clouds and sculptures for the moment, diagnosis could also be seen as akin to cleaning up a messy desk. It involves organizing and classifying bits of information, some of which are necessary, others of which are clearly not, and still more that initially seem important, but in reality are not so. While administering tests, the clinician continues to make observations of the client, trying to gain as much insight as possible about communication, mood, motivation, and other factors that could affect either the diagnosis made or the treatment recommended. Diagnosing communication disorders involves taking copious bits of information and determining whether a client has a problem and what to do about it. The clinician has turned a substantial amount of data and observations into concrete recommendations. When the clinician and client are face-to-face, far more information can be obtained with case history forms.
