Module 07 CNS Mini Case Studies
Case Study: A
You’re talking to your mother on the phone and the both of you are discussing the upcoming
surprise party for your daughter and you ask her what she thinks about hiring a clown for the
party. Your mother replies with a comment that has nothing to do with the party or really even
makes sense. You notice that she had a slight slurring of her words too. You get a bit panicky
and ask her if she’s all right. You hear your mother mumble something and again you ask if she
is all right. After a moment, she states that she is fine and just got a little dizzy and now has a
headache. Your mother then asks what was her question again.
At the end of the conversation, you ask your mom if she has been feeling good lately, to which
she states that she has been noticing she has been feeling off and odd occasionally for a few
seconds or so.
What is your diagnosis including reasoning for your diagnosis, causes to this condition and
concerns you would have?
• These could be early signs of MS. As more neurons become demyelinated the more
symptoms become clear. There is not conclusive evidence from the current situation
that this is the case, but the mom losing cognitive function only temporarily could be
because the nerve involved had lost its myelin sheath, and a different nerve was able to
step in, and bring things back to “normal”.
Case Study: B
Samuel Dexter is a 52-year-old African-American man who is both a husband and father. He is
moderately obese (BMI of 32), and has smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for the past 38
years. As he was getting ready for work one morning, while brushing this teeth, he all of sudden
got weakness on his right side and dropped his toothbrush. Samuel is a bit confused and
worried after dropping his toothbrush and looks into the mirror and sees a blurry image of his
self. Samuel tries to call for his wife but cannot articulate the words and his speech is slurred.
When he attempts to walk out of the bathroom, he stumbles a few times and falls once.
His wife, Margaret, hears Samuel fall and yells to him if he is alright; when she doesn’t hear him
respond, she rushes to him and notices his right side of his face seems if it is fallen, especially
his eye and lips. Margaret rushes to the phone and calls 911. Emergency personnel arrive within
minutes of her call and transport Samuel to the emergency room (ER) of the nearest hospital.
At the hospital, the ER staff performs a number of tests; predict the results of these tests on
Part 02 Procedure of Module 07 Lab Worksheet and answer the questions relating to this case.
Case Study B:
Two point discrimination L/R: left would feel normal, right would not feel
anything
Case Study: A
You’re talking to your mother on the phone and the both of you are discussing the upcoming
surprise party for your daughter and you ask her what she thinks about hiring a clown for the
party. Your mother replies with a comment that has nothing to do with the party or really even
makes sense. You notice that she had a slight slurring of her words too. You get a bit panicky
and ask her if she’s all right. You hear your mother mumble something and again you ask if she
is all right. After a moment, she states that she is fine and just got a little dizzy and now has a
headache. Your mother then asks what was her question again.
At the end of the conversation, you ask your mom if she has been feeling good lately, to which
she states that she has been noticing she has been feeling off and odd occasionally for a few
seconds or so.
What is your diagnosis including reasoning for your diagnosis, causes to this condition and
concerns you would have?
• These could be early signs of MS. As more neurons become demyelinated the more
symptoms become clear. There is not conclusive evidence from the current situation
that this is the case, but the mom losing cognitive function only temporarily could be
because the nerve involved had lost its myelin sheath, and a different nerve was able to
step in, and bring things back to “normal”.
Case Study: B
Samuel Dexter is a 52-year-old African-American man who is both a husband and father. He is
moderately obese (BMI of 32), and has smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for the past 38
years. As he was getting ready for work one morning, while brushing this teeth, he all of sudden
got weakness on his right side and dropped his toothbrush. Samuel is a bit confused and
worried after dropping his toothbrush and looks into the mirror and sees a blurry image of his
self. Samuel tries to call for his wife but cannot articulate the words and his speech is slurred.
When he attempts to walk out of the bathroom, he stumbles a few times and falls once.
His wife, Margaret, hears Samuel fall and yells to him if he is alright; when she doesn’t hear him
respond, she rushes to him and notices his right side of his face seems if it is fallen, especially
his eye and lips. Margaret rushes to the phone and calls 911. Emergency personnel arrive within
minutes of her call and transport Samuel to the emergency room (ER) of the nearest hospital.
At the hospital, the ER staff performs a number of tests; predict the results of these tests on
Part 02 Procedure of Module 07 Lab Worksheet and answer the questions relating to this case.
Case Study B:
Two point discrimination L/R: left would feel normal, right would not feel
anything
