Top Lang Disord 2001;21(4):21–36 © 2001 Aspen Publishers, Inc. 21 Intervention Outcomes: A Clinical Application of Qualitative Methods A clinical application of assessment methods adapted from qualitative research is described. Specifically, data were collected via ethnographic interviewing and journal writing before, during, and after intervention in a case of adult aphasia. The data were categorized to provide insight into contexts of communication, social relation- ships, and feelings about life with aphasia. By analyzing the reports of the client and significant others over the course of treatment, changes in social participation and psychosocial well-being were documented. These de- scriptive data provided a socially valid and consumer focused method of tracking outcome in this case. Key words: aphasia, assessment, communication disorders, ethnography, intervention, interviewing, outcome, par- ticipation Nina Simmons-Mackie, PhD, BC-NCD Professor Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana Jack S. Damico, PhD Professor and Doris B. Hawthorne Eminent Scholar Department of Communicative Disorders University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana N THE COMMUNICATION disorders literature I outcome has been defined as a change in status attributed to intervention or treatment (Frattali, 1998 a, b; Garrett 1999). Docu- mentation and knowledge of outcomes after intervention is essential for maintaining support for services in communication dis- orders. However, methods of measuring outcomes are diverse due to the variety of interested parties, various types of outcome, and philosophical orientations involved in communication intervention (Frattali, 1998c; Garrett, 1999; Holland, 1998; Hol- land & Thompson, 1998; Rao, Blosser & Huffman, 1998; Warren, 1996). For example, clinicians want to demon- strate that their services are effective, worthwhile, and necessary. Consumers de- sire approaches that improve their subjec- tive quality of life. Funding sources wish to allocate funds to efficient, proven methods. Policy makers require evidence that re- sources are allocated fairly and cost effec- tively. In addition, outcome can be defined in a number of domains such as level of in-