Overview

THE SECOND EDITION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST 2013. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.***

Covers all the topics required for a thorough understanding of hearing sciences: acoustics, anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems, psychoacoustics, and basic instrumentation. Written in a straightforward style, this text is appropriate for undergraduate students. Fundamental concepts from earlier chapters are reinforced as more complex topics are introduced. In short, it is an accessible book that students will rely on throughout their academic careers. Instructors may find the more advanced chapters useful as supplementary material in AuD programs.

Reviews

• Vinaya K. C. Manchaiah, Audiological Medicine, (2009):
  "The book is finely structured. The overall running sequence of the chapters is logical and well thought through. I like the idea of introducing concepts of ‘acoustics’ early in the book and including some ‘basic mathematics’ at the end. The information in this book has sufficient depth in all the areas covered."

• Serah Ndegwa, Audiological Scientist, Head of Audiology, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, Community Ear and Hearing Health, (2009):
  "This is an excellent book which covers all areas of hearing science. The text is systematically structured, easy to read and has well illustrated diagrams. This is an ideal resource textbook for students studying Audiology or other courses in hearing sciences. It also provides a good read for those audiologists already in practice."

• Laurie M. Schmidt, AuD, CCC-A (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center), Otology & Neurology, (2011):
  "''The Hearing Sciences'' is an excellent textbook geared toward advanced undergraduate courses in hearing science or communication disorders as well as entry-level doctor of audiology courses. It is truly designed to be an educational tool with easy-to-read language, bolded terms, an abundance of diagrams and images, and appendix of mathematical review for those students who need a refresher."

Audience

Primary Subject: Audiology / Textbooks
Secondary Subject: Audiology / Hearing Science
Secondary Subject: Speech and Language Pathology / Hearing Sciences
Audience Level: Textbook - Desk Copy

• Preface
• Acknowledgments and Dedication
• About the Authors
• Section One: Basic Acoustics and Instrumentation
  • Chapter 1. Physical Properties of Sound
    Energy
    Opposing Forces
    Units of Measurement
    Sound Energy
    Compression and Rarefaction
    Frequency
    Intensity
    Limits of Human Frequency Detection
    Summary
  • Chapter 2. Ratios, Logarithms, and Decibels
    Ratios
    Exponents
    Positive Exponents
    Negative Exponents
    Zero Exponent
    Laws of Exponents
    Addition
    Subtraction
    Multiplication, Division, and Exponents of Exponents
    Scientific Notation
    Adding and Subtracting Numbers in Scientific Notation
    Logarithms Are Based on Exponents
    Logarithms of Numbers with Only 1 and 0
    Logarithms of Numbers Other Than 1 and 0
    Why Are Logs Important?
    Antilogs
    The Log of X Times Y
    Log of (X Divided by Y)
    Hints on Using the Calculator
    Obtaining the Log of a Number That Is Raised to a Power
    The Decibel
    Power
    Doubling Power
    Pressure
    Doubling Power Does Not Double Pressure
    Doubling the Distance from the Source
    Practice at Calculating Sound Pressure Levels
    Practice at Calculating Intensity Levels
    Relative Powers and Pressures
    Adding Decibels
    Summary
  • Chapter 3. Further Examination of Properties of Sound
    Speed of Sound Transmission
    Wavelength
    Period
    Relationship of Period and Wavelength
    Sound Transmission Effects
    Diffraction and Reflection
    Sound Absorption, Transmission Loss, and Reverberation Time
    Sound Propogation Through Holes
    The Doppler Effect
    Sonic Booms and Thunder
    Air Density Affects Wavelength
    Types of Decibel Scales
    Review of dB SPL and dB IL
    dB Increase
    dB HL and SL
    Introduction to the Audiogram
    Summary
  • Chapter 4. The Sine in Sine Waves and Other Types of Sound Waves
    Triangles and Sines
    Plotting Sine Waves
    Simple Harmonic Motion, the Pendulum and the Circle
    Molecular Vibration and the Sine Wave
    How We Calculate Relative Amplitude When Phase Is Known
    How We Calculate Phase When Time and Frequency Are Known
    Complex Sound
    Summing Pure Tones That Differ Only in Phase or Amplitude
    Summing Pure Tones That Differ in Frequency
    Harmonics and Distortion
    Air Molecule Vibration Pattern for Complex Sounds
    Fourier’s Theoum
    Common Types of Tones and Noise
    The Click (Transient) Signal
    Summary
    Answers to Chapter Problems
  • Chapter 5. Impedance, Energy Transfer, and Resonance
    Impedance
    Impedance of a Medium
    Energy Transfer
    Resonance of Systems
    Standing Waves and Resonances of Tubes
    Standing Waves
    Resonances of a Tube Closed at One End
    Resonances of a Tube Closed at Both Ends
    Summary
  • Chapter 6. Electricity and Analog Systems
    Electron Flow
    Ohm’s Law
    Electrical Circuits
    Ionic Flow
    Common Analog Components
    Microphones
    Amplifiers
    Filters
    Calculating Filter Cutoff Frequencies
    Cutoff Frequencies Defined at 3-dB
    Down Points
    Speakers
    Transducers
    Volume Controls
    Frequency Response Controls
    Summary
  • Chapter 7. Digital Systems and Digital Signal Processing
    Bits and Sampling Rates
    How Big Is That?
    How Often Should Amplitude Be Measured?
    Building an Analogy to Use Later
    Additional Digitization Concepts
    Analog to Digital Converters
    Nyquist Frequency
    Aliasing
    Antialiasing Filtering
    Digital to Analog Converters
    Imaging
    Anti-Imaging Filters
    Overview of What a Digital System Can Do
    Fast Fourier Transform Analysis of Auditory Signals
    Windowing
    Overlapping Windows
    Goal of FFT Analysis
    FFT Resolution
    Example FFT Results
    Digital Noise in the FFT Analysis
    Calculating Noise per Bin and dB of Bandwidth per Bin
    Clinical Correlate: Bins in Audiology
    Time Domain Signal Averaging
    Clinical Correlate: Digital Hearing Aids
    Summary
  • Chapter 8. Some Equipment Used in Audiology and Hearing Science
    Audiometers
    Signal Generators
    Sound Booths
    Immittance Devices (Middle Ear Analyzers)
    Tympanometers
    Acoustic Stapedial Reflex Measurement
    Otoacoustic Emissions Devices
    Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emission Measurement
    Transient-Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions Measurement
    Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions Measurement
    Signal Processing Used in Analysis of All
    Types of OAE Measurements
    Auditory Evoked Response Measurement Systems
    Common Mode Rejection
    Time-Domain Signal Averaging and Artifact Rejection
    Filtering the Evoked Response
    Hearing Aid Analyzers
    Real-Ear Measurement Systems
    Speech Mapping Technology
    Traditional Real-Ear Testing
    Power Supplies for Hearing Instruments and
    Testing Equipment: Safety Concerns and Electronic Noise
    Relative Safety of AC and DC Power Supplies
    What Is AC Electricity?
    Ground Noise
    Grounding Equipment, Fuses, and Circuit Protectors
    Floor Noise
    Microphones
    Types of Microphones
    Microphone Directionality
    Microphone Care
    Sound Level Meters
    Calibration
    Types of Decibel Scales
    Sound Level Meter Response Times
    Decibel Range Selection
    Earphone Couplers
    Frequency Counters
    Audiometer Calibrators
    Oscilloscopes
    Summary
• Section Two: Introduction to Speech Acoustics
  • Chapter 9. Classification of Speech Sounds
    Consonants, Vowels, and Diphthongs
    Consonants Are Categorized by Place of
    Articulation, Manner of Articulation, and Voicing
    Alveolar Sounds
    Palatal Sounds
    Glottal Sound
    Velar Sounds
    Linguadental Sounds
    Bilabial Sounds
    Labiodental Sounds
    Clinical Correlate: The Limits of Lip Reading
    Vowels Differ in Tongue Height, Placement, Tension and Lip Rounding
    Front Vowels
    Central Vowels
    Back Vowels
    Summary
  • Chapter 10. Acoustics of Speech
    How Speech Sound Waveforms Can Be Viewed
    Fundamental Frequency, Harmonics, and Formant Frequencies
    Acoustic Characteristics of Vowels
    Formant Frequencies Are Created by Resonance of the Vocal Tract
    F1 and F2 of Vowels
    Intensity of Vowel Sounds
    Low Importance of Vowels for Speech Understanding
    Acoustic Characteristics of Consonants
    Stop Consonant Burst Energy Is Wideband
    Voice Onset Time Distinguishes Voiced and Unvoiced Sounds
    Formant Frequency Transitions Provide Additional Acoustic Cues
    Fricatives Have Longer Duration and High-Frequency Energy
    Affricatives Have Characteristics of Both Plosives and Fricatives
    Nasals Have Low-Frequency Energy, Nasal Murmur, and Antiresonances
    Glides Are Characterized by Vowel Formant Transitions
    Intensity of Consonants
    Importance of Consonants for Speech Understanding
    Clinical Correlate: Shouting Doesn’t Help Most Hearing Impaired
    Summary
• Section Three: Anatomy and Ph ysiology of the Ear
  • Chapter 11. Overview of Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear
    Anatomic Terms for Location
    Anatomic Views
    General Sections of the Ear
    Clinical Correlate: Types of Loss
    The Temporal Bone
    Overview of Physiology
    Summary
  • Chapter 12. Introduction to the Conductive Mechanisms
    The External Ear
    The Middle Ear
    The Tympanic Membrane
    Medial Wall Landmarks
    Posterior Wall Landmarks
    The Ossicles
    Overview of How Middle Ear Ossicular Motion Permits Hearing
    Middle Ear Muscles
    The Eustachian Tube
    Summary
  • Chapter 13. Introduction to the Physiology of the Middle Ear
    Resonances of the External Ear
    Energy Transfer Through the Middle Ear
    Impedance Mismatch Between Air and Cochlear Fluids
    The Middle Ear as an Impedance-Matching Transformer
    Ossicular Lever
    Areal Ratio
    The Acoustic Reflex
    Summary
  • Chapter 14. Bone Conduction Hearing
    Bone Conduction Mechanisms
    Skull Vibration
    Intertial Aspects of Bone Conduction
    Compressional Aspects of Bone Conduction
    Hearing Is Tested by Air- and Bone-Conduction
    Bone-Conduction by Air-Conduction and the Occlusion Effect
    Clinical Correlate: Diagnosing Conductive
    Hearing Loss
    Summary
  • Chapter 15. Advanced Conductive Anatomy and Physiology
    Pinna
    Embryologic development
    Landmarks
    Clinical Correlate: Defects of the Outer Ear May Signal
    Middle and Inner Ear Defects
    Physiology of the Pinna
    External Auditory Meatus
    Detailed Anatomy
    Clinical Correlate: Otoscopy and Earmold Impressions
    Proximity to the Temporomandibular Joint
    Clinical Correlates: Temporomandibular Joint Pain and the Effect of TMJ Movement on Earmold Impressions
    Proximity of Nerves to the External Auditory Meatus
    Skin of the External Auditory Meatus
    Cerumen
    Clinical Correlate: Cerumen Management
    Detailed Physiology of the External Auditory Meatus
    Clinical Correlate: Real Ear Measurement
    Tympanic Membrane
    Slant and Cone Depth
    Clinical Correlate: Cone of Light
    Detailed Study of the Ossicular Chain
    Resonance of the Middle Ear
    Mass and Stiffness of the Middle Ear
    Affect Sound Transmission Differently at Different Frequencies
    Clinical Correlate: Carhart’s Notch
    Transmission of Sound Through the Tympanic Membrane Is Affected by Mass and Stiffness
    Clinical Correlate: Measuring Middle Ear Resonance
    Clinical Correlate: Measuring Middle Ear Pressure
    Acoustic Reflex Physiology
    Reflex Latency
    Clinical Correlate: Measuring Acoustic Reflex
    Reflex Adaptation
    Reflex Threshold
    Clinical Correlate: Measuring Acoustic Reflex Decay
    Clinical Correlate: Reflex Threshold Testing May Reveal Type of Hearing Loss
    Summary
  • Chapter 16. Introduction to the Sensory Mechanics
    The Bony Labyrinth
    The Membranous Labyrinth
    The Vestibular System
    The Cochlea
    Structures Within the Cochlea
    Gross Structures
    Fine Details of Features in the Cochlea
    Mass and Stiffness Differences Along Basilar Membrane
    Review of How the Detailed Features Fit Within the Larger Picture
    Cochlear Blood Supply
    Innervation of the Cochlea
    Summary
  • Chapter 17. Advanced Study of the Anatomy of the Cochlea
    Hair Cell Height and Number
    Stereocilia and Their Tip Links and Side Links
    Supporting Cells
    Chemical Composition of Endolymph and Perilymph
    Comparative Electrical Charges of Fluids in the Cochlea
    Potassium Influx Regulates Calcium Coming into Hair Cells
    Circulation of Ions
    Clinical Correlate: Gap Junctions and Deafness
    Neurotransmitter Release
    Summary
  • Chapter 18. Introduction to Cochlear Physiology
    Arrangement of the Cilia Relative to Tectorial Membrane
    Mass/Stiffness Gradient of the Basilar Membrane
    Review of Divisions and Membranes Within the Cochlea
    The In-and-Out Motion of Stapes Footplate Becomes an Up-and-Down Motion of Basilar Membrane, Called the Traveling Wave
    The Location of the Maximum Place of Movement on Basilar Membrane Is Determined by the Sound Frequency
    The Height of the Traveling Wave Envelope Is Related to Sound Intensity
    Ciliary Shearing
    Returning to the Concept that the Up-and-Down Basilar Membrane Motion Creates Side-to-Side Shearing of the Hair Cell Cilia
    Shearing of Cilia Opens Microchannels in the Cilia and Creates Chemical Changes in the Hair Cell Body
    The Active Mechanism Enhances the Motion of the Inner Hair Cell Cilia
    Hearing Requires Inner Hair Cell Stimulation
    Summary
  • Chapter 19. More Hair Cell Physiology
    Calcium Channels, Potassium Pumps, and the Active Mechanism
    Review of Cellular Chemistry Changes
    Prestin Protein Contraction Creates the Active Mechanism
    Otoacoustic Emissions Are Sounds That Come From the Cochlea as a Result of the Active Mechanism of the Outer Hair Cells
    Tip Links and Insertion Plaques
    Clinical Correlate: Use of Otoacoustic Emissions Testing in Neonatal Testing
    Clinical Correlate: Temporary Threshold Shift
    Summary
  • Chapter 20. Overview of Cochlear Potentials and the Auditory Nervous System
    Chemical Changes in the Hair Cells and Neurons
    The Cochlear Microphonic
    The Summating Potential
    Action Potentials
    Clinical Correlate: VIIIth Nerve Tumors Cause
    High-Frequency Hearing Loss
    Pattern of Neural Firing Encodes Frequency and Intensity
    The Primary Afferent Auditory Pathway
    Location of Afferent Neuron Dendrites
    Course of the VIIIth Nerve
    Cerebellopontine Angle
    Nuclei
    Primary Auditory Cortex
    Clinical Correlate: ABR Testing Measures Synchronous
    Neural Discharge
    Clinical Correlate: Right Ear Advantage
    Introduction to Efferent Neurons
    Summary
  • Chapter 21. Advanced Study of Cochlear and VIIIth Nerve Potentials
    Characteristic Frequency
    Cochlear Resting Potentials
    Endocochlear Potential
    Intracellular Potentials
    Cochlear Receptor Potentials
    Cochlear Microphonic
    Summating Potential
    Comparison of the Tuning of the Cochlear Microphonic and the Summating Potential
    Clinical Correlate: Ménière’s Disease and Enhanced Summating Potentials
    Summary of Cochlear Microphonic and Summating Potential
    Action Potentials
    Electrical Potentials in Neurons
    Refractory Period
    Spontaneous Discharge Rates
    Threshold of Neural Firing Is Related to Spontaneous Discharge Rate
    Firing Rates Influenced by Efferent Innervation
    Pure Tones Frequencies and Intensities That Cause a Neuron to Fire Faster Than Spontaneous Rate
    Upward Spread of Masking—Masking of One Stimulus by a Second
    Neural Tuning Curves
    How Neural Tuning Curves are Obtained
    Q10 dB Calculations Describe Width of Tuning Curve Tips
    Neural Tuning Curve Summary
    Summary
  • Chapter 22. How Frequency and Intensity Information Is Encoded by VIIIth Nerve Fibers
    Rate of Firing of One Neuron Increases as the Stimulus Frequency Approaches Characteristic Frequency
    Different Combinations of Frequency and Intensity Can Create the Same Overall Number of Neural Discharges Per Second
    Problems with the Theory That Frequency Is Encoded By Rate of Discharge
    Pattern of Neural Discharge Encodes Frequency and Intensity *:Return to the Digital System Analogy
    Whole Nerve Potentials Versus Single Nerve Potentials to Single Pure Tones
    Limits on a Neuron’s Firing “In Phase” with Signals
    Clinical Correlate – What the Auditory Brainstem Response Measures and How the Auditory Steady-State Response Differs
    Masking of One Sound by a Second Sound
    Poststimulus Time Histograms Obtained When Stimulating the Ear with Clicks and the Concept of Preferred Intervals
    Period Histograms: Histograms Obtained with Pure-Tone Stimulation
    Review of the Response of the VIIIth Nerve to Pure Tones
    Response of the VIIIth Nerve to Complex Signals
    Additional Information Is Obtained from Early and Late Neural Firing
    Summary
  • Chapter 23. The Efferent Auditory System
    Olivocochlear Bundle
    Medial Efferent System
    Lateral Efferent System
    Crossed and Uncrossed Efferent Fibers
    Effect of Activation of the Efferent System
    Medial Efferent System Activation
    Lateral Efferent System Activation
    Other Efferent Pathways
    The Acoustic Reflex
    Stapedial Reflex Pathway
    Effect of Stapedial Reflex Contraction
    Role of Tensor Tympani
    Acoustic Reflexes Elicited by Nonauditory Stimuli
    Summary
  • Chapter 24. Peripheral Vestibular Anatomy and Physiology
    The Vestibular System Bony and Membranous Labyrinths
    Arrangement of the Semicircular Canals
    Planes of the Canals of the Right and Left Ears are Aligned
    Clinical Correlate: Orienting the Horizontal Semicircular Canal
    Anatomy and Physiology of the Semicircular Canals
    Structures Within the Ampullae of the Semicircular Canals
    Angular Head Motion Directions
    Cilia and Kinocilium in the Ampullae
    Direction of Endolymph/Cupula Movement That Is Excitatory
    The Utricle and Saccule
    Hair Cells of the Utricle and Saccule
    Vestibular Branch of the VIIIth Nerve
    Clinical Correlate: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
    Clinical Correlate: Vestibular Assessment of Each Branch of the Vestibular Portion of the VIIIth Nerve
    Summary
  • Chapter 25. Central Vestibular Anatomy and Physiology
    Functions of the Balance System
    Awareness of Head Position
    The Vestibular-Ocular Reflex
    Ewald’s First Law
    Muscles Controlling Eye Movements
    Neural Pathways for Ocular Control
    Pathways from Vestibular Nucleus to the Nerves Controlling Eye Movement
    Neural Control of Eye Deflection During Head Turn
    Limited Range of Eye Deflection
    Nystagmus: Repeated Slow Drift, Rapid Saccadic Return Motion
    Introduction to Ewald’s Second Law
    Summary of the VOR and Introduction to VNG Testing
    Velocity Storage
    Clinical Correlate: Unilateral Peripheral Lesions Cause
    Nystagmus That Beats Toward the Unaffected Ear
    Reflexes of the Balance System for Postural Control
    Vestibulospinal reflex
    Cervicoocular reflex
    Cervicospinal and cervicocollic reflexes
    Vestibulocervical and vestibulocollic reflexes
    Summary of the Functions of Balance and Clinical Implications
    Clinical Correlate: Overview of Balance Assessment
    Overview of Posturography
    Overview of Video- and Electronystagmography
    Summary
• Section 4: Basic Psychoacoustics
  • Chapter 26. Introduction to Psychoacoustics
    Threshold for Pure Tones Depends on Frequency
    Two Ears Are Better Than One
    Under Ideal Circumstances, a Person Can Detect a 1-dB Intensity Change
    In General, a 10-dB Increase in Intensity Is About a Doubling of Loudness
    Loudness Grows a Bit Differently in the Low Frequencies: An Introduction to Phon Curves
    Pitch
    When Is a Pure Tone Tonal?
    Detecting Change in Pitch
    Doubling Frequency Creates a Musical Sameness but Not a Doubling of Pitch
    Masking
    Upward Spread of Masking
    Critical Bands
    Temporal Processing
    Sounds Are Louder and of Better Pitch if at Least One-Quarter Millisecond Duration
    Temporal Order Detection
    Gap Detection
    Summary and Implications for Speech Perception
  • Chapter 27. Classical Psychoacoustic Methodologies
    Classic Psychoacoustic Methods
    Method of Limits
    Effect of Instruction
    Response Latency and False Positive Responses
    Effect of Using Increasing Versus Decreasing Intensity Runs
    Clinical Correlate: How Instruction Affects Patients’ Responses
    Clinical Correlate: Nonorganic Loss Detection Using Lack of False Positive Responses and Latency Inconsistencies
    Clinical Correlate: Ascending Testing in Nonorganic Loss
    Method of Adjustment
    Similarity of Results of Method of Adjustment and Method of Limits
    Method of Constant Stimuli
    Number of Trials and Step Size
    Newer Methods
    Adaptive Up-Down Methods
    Introduction to Forced-Choice Methods
    Threhhold Is Generally Not 50% Correct Identification in a Forced-Choice Procedure
    Introduction to Signal Detection Theory
    Scaling Procedures
    Magnitude Estimation
    Clinical Correlate: Scaling Procedures Are Used Clinically
    Magnitude Production
    Fractionation
    Cross-Modality Matching
    Summary
  • Chapter 28. Signal Detection Theory and Advanced Adaptive Approaches
    Signal Detection Theory
    Understanding “Magnitude of the Sensory Event”
    Signal Plus Noise Perception
    Criterion Points for Decision-Making and How Hit and Correct
    Rejection Percentages Reveal Spacing Between the Noise and
    Signal-Plus-Noise Distributions
    Altering Subject Criteria in Signal Detection Theory and Receiver
    Operating Curves
    The Magic of d’
    Clinical Correlate: Clinical Tests Have d’ Values
    Adaptive Methods to Determine the Signal Level That Is Correctly Detected a Given Percentage of Time
    Block Up-Down and Transformed Up-Down Procedures
    Interleaving Runs
    Parameter Estimation by Sequential Testing
    Gridgeman’s Paradox
    Preference Testing in Hearing Aid Customization
    Paired-Comparisons
    Summary
  • Chapter 29. Threshold of Hearing, Loudness Perception, and Loudness Adaptation
    Absolute Threshold of Hearing
    Mimimal Audible Pressure and Field
    Binaural and Equated Binaural Thresholds
    Effect of Stimulus Duration on Absolute Threshold
    Effect of Stimulus Repetition Rate
    Difference Threshold for Intensity: DLI
    Spectral Profile Analysis
    Clinical Correlate: Short-Increment Sensitivity Index
    Loudness Perception
    Loudness Level
    Decibel Scales Revisited
    Loudness Scaling
    Loudness Adaptation
    Clinical Correlate: Tone Decay and Reflex Decay Testing
    Temporary Threshold Shift
    Summary
  • Chapter 30. Calculating Loudness
    Physiological Correlates of Loudness and Loudness Growth
    The Transfer Function of the Ear
    Role of the Active Mechanism
    Spread of Activity Along the Basilar Membrane
    Calculating Loudness of Pure Tones
    Complex Tone Loudness
    Summary
  • Chapter 31. Basics of Pitch Perception
    Pitch Perception
    The Limits of Tonal Perception
    Pitch Perception Is Intensity Dependent
    Pitch Perception Is Duration Dependent
    Pitch Scaling
    The Mel Scale of Pitch
    Octave Scales
    Bark Scale Introduced
    Just Noticeable Difference of Frequency
    Changes in DLF with Frequency
    Changes in DLF with Intensity
    Perception of Two Tones and of Distortions
    Beats and Simple Difference Tones
    Summation Tones, Other Difference Tones, and Aural Harmonics
    Summary
  • Chapter 32. Introduction to Masking
    Tone-on-Tone Masking
    Critical Bands
    Clinical Correlate: The Audiometer’s Masking Noise
    Summary
  • Chapter 33. More about Masking and Cochlear Frequency Distribution
    Masking Pure Tones with White Noise and Narrow-Band Noise: Critical Bands and Critical Ratios
    Level per Cycle Calculations
    Critical Bands in Hz and dB
    A Critical Band Is also Called a Bark
    How Critical Bands Vary with Frequency
    Fletcher’s Theory of Critical Ratio
    Equivalent Rectangular Bandwidths
    Other Ways to Evaluate Critical Bands
    The Relationship Between DLF, Critical Bands, Critical Ratios, and Equivalent Rectangular Bandwidths
    Clinical Correlate: Acoustic Reflexes to Pure Tones and Broadband Noise
    Comodulation Release from Masking
    Remote Masking
    Summary and Some Further Analysis
  • Chapter 34. Psychophysical Tuning Curves
    Psychophysical Tuning Curves
    How PTCs Are Obtained and Interpreted
    Correlation to Traveling Wave Locations
    Families of PTCs
    Tips, Tails, and Q-10’s
    Neural Tuning Curves Revisited
    The Link Between PTCs and Neural Tuning Curves
    Summary and a Confession
  • Chapter 35. Temporal Processing
    Review of Temporal Integration for Threshold-Level Stimuli
    Review of Duration Effects on Pitch Perception
    Gap Detection
    Gap Detection Ability Is a Function of Frequency
    Gap Detection Ability Is Related to the Auditory Filter Bandwidth
    Detection of Gaps in White Noise Uses the High-Frequency Cochlear Filters
    Clinical Correlate: Auditory Processing Testing of Gap Detection
    Temporal Successiveness
    Clinical Correlate: Auditory Processing Testing of Temporal Successiveness
    Temporal Discrimination
    Temporal Discrimination Relates to Distinguishing Voiced from Unvoiced Consonants
    Temporal Modulation Transfer Functions
    Summary
  • Chapter 36. Temporal Masking
    Forward Masking – Masker Precedes Probe Signal
    Magnitude of the Effect
    Physiologic Explanations
    Forward Masking Psychophysical Tuning Curves Are Sharper
    Backward Masking – Masker Follows the Probe Signal
    Magnitude of the Effect
    Physiologic Explanation
    Summary
  • Chapter 37. Binaural Hearing
    Binaural Summation
    Improved DLI and DLF Ability Binaurally
    Clinical Correlate: Monaural versus Binaural Amplification
    Binaural Beats
    Central Masking
    Binaural Fusion
    Localization
    Temporal Cues to Localization
    Intensity Differences
    Combined Effect of Intensity and Phase Differences
    Central Nervous System Cells Are Responsive to Phase or Intensity Differences
    Lateralization
    Interaural Time Difference
    Interaural Intensity Differences
    Clinical Correlate: Stenger Test for Nonorganic Unilateral Hearing Loss
    Combined Effects of Intensity and Phase
    Why Is Lateralization a Different Phenomenon from Localization?
    Masking Level Differences
    Clinical Correlate: Binaural Advantage to Hearing Aids
    Summary
  • Chapter 38. Introduction to Results of Psychoacoustical Assessment of the Hearing-Impaired
    The Effect of Hearing Loss on Audibility of Tones and Speech
    Effect of Loss Type and Severity
    Loss of Sensitivity for Pure Tones Predicts Loss of Speech Perception Ability
    Articulation Index Predictions of Speech Understanding Are Imperfect
    Cochlear Loss Causes Recruitment
    Difference Limens for Intensity
    Threshold Temporal Summation Effects
    Widened Psychophysical Tuning Curves
    Cochlear Dead Regions
    Off-Frequency Listening
    Audiometric Characteristics of Dead Regions
    What Is Perceived When Off-Frequency Listening Occurs?
    Psychophysical Tuning Curves for Dead Regions
    The Threshold Equalizing Noise Test
    Enhanced DLFs Near Dead Regions?
    Amplification for Those with Dead Regions
    Clinical Correlate: Frequency Compression Hearing Aids and Short-Electrode Cochlear Implants
    Gap Detection Thresholds
    Results with White Noise Stimuli
    Gap Detection Results for Pure Tones Depend on Stimulus Intensity Levels
    Gap Detection Should Theoretically Be Better in Hearing-Impaired
    Temporal Modulation Detection Ability Is Good if Signal Is Fully Audible
    Poorer Pitch Perception Abilities
    Summary
• Appendix A. The Math Needed to Succeed in Hearing Science
• Index

About The Authors

Teri Hamill, PhD

Teri A. Hamill, PhD, is Professor of Audiology at Nova Southeastern University, where she teaches Au.D. students.

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Lloyd Price, PhD

Lloyd L. Price, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Audiology, taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the hearing sciences at Florida State University. When he began teaching an undergraduate hearing science course in 1983, there were no texts suitable at that level. In order to cover the material he wished to cover, it was necessary to develop a text, which evolved over a fifteen-year period. Price has background in both clinical audiology and academia. He worked as a professor for thirty-one years after having worked clinically for the previous nine years. Price is now retired, living in Havana, Florida with his wife, Cindy.

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