Overview

This introductory book is written for ENTs, prospective hearing instrument specialists studying to obtain their state license, audiology assistants, and speech pathologists working with hearing impaired adults. It also is an excellent introduction for Au.D. students or practicing audiologists just beginning work with hearing aid dispensing.

This extremely practical and engaging book logically takes the reader from beginning to end of the entire hearing aid selection and fitting process. The chapters sequentially provide the reader with the essential knowledge needed to fit modern hearing aids, along with links to handy websites for further study and reference.

The authors, who both are experienced in the day-to-day fitting of hearing aids, and have taught hundreds of students with a variety of backgrounds, provide a consistent overview of the fundamentals of the entire hearing aid selection process. The chapters provide step-by-step guidelines covering both the art and science of hearing aid fitting.

Fitting and Dispensing Hearing Aids: Interview with Brian Taylor, AuD
Douglas L. Beck, AuD, speaks with Taylor about his new book, Fitting and Dispensing Hearing Aids, co-authored by H. Gustav Mueller.

Read the interview here, or view as PDF.
Interview republished with permission from the American Academy of Audiology. Copyright 2011

Review

• Douglas L. Beck Au.D., Board Certified Audiology, American Academy of Audiology, (June 2011):
  "The new book from Drs. Brian Taylor and Gus Mueller uniquely fills the need for an up-to-date, well written and comprehensive text for students and new practitioners interested in modern approaches, advances and technology with regard to hearing aid amplification."

Audience

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

• Chapter 1: Psychology of Hearing Loss
  • Overview of the Market Place
  • Common Traits of the Adult Hearing Impaired Population
  • Counseling Strategies
• Chapter 2: Basic Acoustics
  • Properties of Sound
  • The Decibel
  • The Speech Spectrum
• Chapter 3: Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear
  • Outer Ear
  • Middle Ear
  • Inner Ear
  • Central Auditory Pathways
• Chapter 4: The Measurement of Hearing
  • The Audiometer & Audiogram
  • Air and Bone Conduction Testing
  • Speech Audiometry
• Chapter 5: Common Hearing Disorders and Audiogram Interpretation
  • Disorders of the Outer Ear
  • Disorders of the Middle Ear
  • Cochlear Disorders
  • Retrocochlear Pathologies
• Chapter 6: The Hearing Aid Selection Process
  • Case History
  • Candidacy Issues
  • Pre-Fitting Considerations
  • Pre-Fitting Testing
• Chapter 7: Hearing Aid Styles
  • Styles
  • Earmolds
  • Earmold Modification
  • Earmold Techniques
• Chapter 8: 8. Introduction to Hearing Aid Design
  • Basic Components
  • Gain
  • Output
  • Bandwidth and Distortion
  • Compression
  • Expansion
• Chapter 9: Advanced Hearing Aid Features and Special Options
  • Multiple Channels of Compression
  • Multi-memory
  • Digital Noise Reduction Technology
  • Directional Microphone Technology
  • Adaptive Feedback Technology
  • Data Logging
  • Trainable Hearing Aids and Wireless Technology
  • Open Canal Technology
  • Implantable Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
  • CROS/BI-CROS
• Chapter 10: Hearing Aid Fitting Procedures
  • 2 cc Coupler Measures
  • Programmability (NOAH, Hi-Pro)
  • Threshold Based Prescriptive Fitting Procedures
  • Verification Methods – Probe Microphone Measures
  • Hearing Aid Orientation and Counseling Process
• Chapter 11: Outcome Assessment and Post-Fitting Issues
  • Laboratory Measures of Outcome
  • Self-Reports of Outcome
  • Aural Rehabilitation
  • Auditory Training
• Chapter 12: Solving Common Hearing Aid Problems
  • Occlusion Effect
  • Acoustic Feedback
  • Problems Related to Loudness
  • Speech Intelligibility in Quiet and Noise
• Appendix

About The Authors

Brian Taylor, AuD

Brian Taylor, Au.D. is currently the Director of Practice Development & Clinical Affairs for Unitron. He is responsible for all best practice initiatives and customer loyalty programs for Unitron in the United States. Over the past 20 years he has dispensed hearing aids in both retail and medical settings, including Rockford Clinic and Sonus. Prior to his current position, he was the Director of Professional Development for Amplifon and served as their Global Training Manager in Milan, Italy.

Dr. Taylor has written and lectured extensively on several topics, including practice management and evidence-based hearing aid selection and fitting approaches. Brian holds an Au.D from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in Audiology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He currently resides in Minneapolis.

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H. Gustav Mueller, Ph.D.

Dr. Mueller is Professor of Audiology at Vanderbilt University, and has a consulting practice in Nashville, Tennessee.

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