Overview

Virtually anything related to hearing that has a scientific basis could be included in a book so labeled, but this book is part of a mission to improve dialogue between basic and applied scientists so that health-related science can translate in many directions: from bench to bedside and vice versa. The editors are clinical audiologists as well as classically trained hearing scientists, who, are committed to the advancement of ‘translational research.’ To do this, colleagues who work along each step of the scientific continuum, from basic to applied, provided information that was theoretically deep, but contextually broad. In some instances this meant pairing authors (clinicians and scientists) who would not normally write together and asking them to co-author chapters. A diverse group of students, post-docs, and scientists also interacted with the authors by asking questions and infusing comments during the review process. This process ensured both basic and applied material would be integrated. One example is the final chapter in the third book in the series on Auditory Plasticity and Auditory Training. Rather than simply review evidence of experience-related physiological changes documented in animal models, the authors chose to address the functional significance of “auditory plasticity” as it pertains to “auditory learning”. By simply revisiting the concepts of ‘plasticity’ in relation to ‘learning’ there has been a resurgence of interest in the area as it pertains to auditory rehabilitation. The challenge was to present the literature in a way that allowed us to ask the tough questions like “Does a statistically-significant change in perception (or biology) necessarily constitute a functionally relevant change in behavior?” More importantly, “do the observed changes impact a person’s ability to communicate? And does it impact their quality of life?”

The result is a three-book series, beginning with: Book 1, entitled ‘Normal Aspects of Hearing’; Book 2, entitled ‘Hearing Across the Life Span - Assessment and Disorders’; and Book 3, entitled ‘Special Topics,’ which provides ‘Translational’ perspectives on current topics in hearing science. We also offer all three books in the series as a bundle.

Audience

Primary Subject: Audiology / Neuroaudiology
Audience Level: Professional/Textbook - 90 Days

1. Introduction by Kelly Tremblay and Robert Burkard
2. Physics of Sound by Robert Burkard, and Kathleen McNerney

Section I – Anatomy and Physiology
3. Periphery: Outer and Middle Ear Function by John J.Rosowski
4. Periphery: The Cochlea by Robert Harrison
5. Periphery: The Eight Nerve by Laurel Carney
6. Central: Cochlear Nuclei by Aage Moller
7. Central: The Superior Olivary Complex by Shig Kuwada and Tom Yin
8. Central: The Lateral Lemniscus and Inferior Colliculus by Bradford J. May
9. Central: The Medical Geniculate Body by Edward Bartlett
10. Central: The Auditory Cortex by John Brugge
11. The Efferent System by John Guinan

Section II – Functioning Systems: Physiological Correlates of Perception
12. Frequency Coding in the Auditory System by Andrew J. Oxenham and Magdalena Wojtczak
13. Intensity Coding throughout the Auditory System and Psychophysical Correlates by Michael Heinz
14. Binaural hearing, sound localization, and spatial hearing by Christopher Stecker and Frederick Gallun
15. Complex Sound Encoding: Vowels and Consonants by Donal Sinex

About The Authors

Kelly Tremblay, PhD

Kelly L. Tremblay is a Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and an Affiliate of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington.

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Robert Burkard, PhD

Professor and Chair, Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo.

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