For upper level courses focusing on hearing science.
An introduction to hearing science that is both comprehensive and includes a broad coverage of auditory mechanisms and function, giving students and teachers a battery of logical tools upon which to build their knowledge.
Here is a compendium of principles that serve as the foundations of hearing science–principles essential to knowledge-base competency in audiology, speech-language pathology, and allied fields embracing the auditory system. In a uniquely comprehensive approach, this text explains the fundamental concepts of physics, acoustics, anatomy, physiology, and sensory psychology to help all readers comprehend the complex auditory processes presented, and use those concepts as essential building to deepen their knowledge or to knowledgeably move into the clinical science of hearing. The text emphasizes the concepts underlying the diagnosis of disorders of the auditory system and their treatment, whether medical or rehabilitative.
Chapter 1 Introduction to Hearing and Basic Auditory Capabilities
Chapter 2 Physics: Back to Basics
Chapter 3 Applied Acoustics for Hearing Science
Chapter 4 Measurement of Sound
Chapter 5 Acoustico-Mechanical Pathway of Sound to the Inner Ear
Chapter 6 Physiological Acoustics of the Cochlea
Chapter 7 Neurophysiology of the Auditory System
Chapter 8 Psychoacoustics and Sound Perception
Presents a strong overview for understanding the concepts, rather than overwhelming students with information on how the ear or auditory system works. The book begins with the classically defined concepts of the capacities of the auditory system, especially those of human hearing. (Chapter 1)
Covers the most basic concepts of quantification and physics, rather than jumping right into what sound is. (Chapters 2-4)
Does not overwhelm students with technical details. The authors’ treatment of sound/acoustics is tailored to the primary interests of those working in hearing science and clinical audiology. (Chapters 2-4)
Offers exposure to sophisticated sound analyses in a non-mathematical manner, as well as in-depth treatment of the ubiquitous decibel. The authors’ treatment of signals and sound measurement anticipate various specific applications in hearing science/audiology. (Throughout the text and in Chapter 4 particularly)
Includes sufficient, yet not over-whelming, detail in the anatomy of the peripheral and central auditory systems to foster in-depth comprehension of auditory function in later chapters. (Chapters 5-7)
Data-intensive figures and graphs enhance the clarity of concepts.
Presents up to date, yet highly digestible research on the concept of auditory physiology and neurophysiology, useful as building blocks for future topics. (Chapters 1, 5-8)
Provides a strong foundation for the important areas of clinical research and practice through the condensed presentation of various principles of psychophysics and the foundation of clinical behavioral test methods. (Chapters 1 and 8)
Offers a robust foundation of the inner workings of the auditory system. (Chapter 5-7, Chapter 8)
Episodic boxed features encourage readers to think beyond each chapter’s scope and provide glimpses into advanced clinical methods.
Allows students to experience many of the effects that are described through supplemental tools such as executive summaries, take-home messages, and study questions.
John D. Durrant, Ph.D., has been a teacher, researcher, and clinician in audiology for nearly four decades, serving on the faculties of Temple University and (currently) the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Fellow of the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and recipient of the ASHA Honors of the Association.
Although educated as a “speech and hearing therapist” (Ohio University), his interests developed early in hearing science, especially in the underlying physiological/neurophysiological mechanisms (Northwestern University), which in turn led to his career in basic and applied/clinical electrophysiology and allied areas of hearing and balance. These remain his primary areas of both his teaching responsibility and research. His teaching experience has transcended virtually all levels of the higher education from undergraduate to graduate education in communication science and disorders, including mentoring of doctoral students, to otolaryngology residency training. His research interests have embraced pervasively both normal and pathological functioning of the auditory system and ways to evaluate function, supported by various agencies including the NIH.
As a clinician, Dr. Durrant’s responsibilities have included the directorship of audiology clinics in the medical centers of both his past and present affiliation. He also has taught and conducted research via international collaborations in Europe, including appointment to the faculty of medical physiology at the Université Lyon 1. He has numerous research and other publications and is active in national and international professional affairs.
Lawrence L. Feth, Ph.D., has been a hearing scientist and university professor for more than forty years. He has served on the faculties of Ohio State University (currently), University of Kansas, and Purdue University. He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and a recipient of the ASHA Honors of the Association.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Ohio State University, Dr. Feth was the first graduate of the doctoral program in bioacoustics at the University of Pittsburgh. His research has focused on auditory signal processing of complex sounds by human listeners with normal hearing, and how hearing impairments affect those processes. His research has been supported by the NIH, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Office of Naval Research. The author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Feth was co-author of the text The Physiology of Speech and Hearing: An Introduction. He has directed many doctoral dissertations, master’s theses, and undergraduate honors theses.