Basics of Audiology

TEXTBOOK
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ABOUT THE BOOK
This book was developed from Dr. Cranford’s extensive experience teaching audiology to speechlanguage pathology students. Although there are multiple, established introductory texts in audiology, this text is uniquely geared to students who certainly are studying Speech-Language Pathology. This text includes all the necessary audiological principles needed for any SLP student to become competent in test assessment and the diagnosis of hearing disorders. Mastery of this text will enable the future clinician practice in a wider patient base.

In addition to being useful in undergraduate training programs as a primary or supplementary text, the book will also be valuable for SLPs who have “been in the trenches” for a number of years and feel they need to have their knowledge of audiology refreshed or updated. Because the author has focused on using nontechnical or layman’s terminology in explaining the various scientific and clinical concepts/principles in this field, he also believes that parents, relatives, or significant others of hearing impaired patients will also find this book useful for understanding the problems experienced by their loved ones.

CONTENTS
I. The Scientific Background for Audioloty. Physics of Sound or Acoustics. Functional Anatomy of the Auditory Nervous System. Contributions From the Psychoacoustics Research Laboratory. II. What Audiologists Do and What You Need to Know. Intake History and Otoscopic Examination of the Patient’s Ear Canal and Eardrum. Pure Tone Air and Bone Conduction Audiometry – How to Interpret the Patient’s Audiogram. Speech Audiometry – What it Can and Cannot Reveal about Peripheral versus Central Auditory Function. What are Acoustic Reflexes and What Do They Reveal About the Patient’s Auditory Function. Tympanometry and Tympanograms – What They Reveal About the Patient’s Middle Ear Function and Hearing Status. Electrocochleography and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential Tests and what they reveal about Cochlear and Brainstem Functions. Otoacoustic Emissions – The Latest Computerized Tool for Assessing Peripheral Hearing and Neural Function. Common Forms of Behavioral Assessments used by Audiologists to Asses Central Auditory Function. Recent Advances in Electrophysiology Measurement Tools for Assessing Central Auditory Nervous System (CANS) Problems. Use of Medical Neuroimaging Techniques to Assist in Evaluating CANS Problems in Patients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jerry L. Cranford, PhD, MCD, CCC-A, Professor of Audiology/Hearing Science, Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Louisiana State University Health Services Center, School of Allied Health Professions.

AUDIENCE
Primary: Audiology