Acoustics for Audiologists / Edition 1

by Peter Haughton, P. M. Haughton

Overview

Many who come to work in audiology have little previous training in acoustics, or in the physical sciences generally. They find these subjects difficult, but when they seek help from books on audiology, they are likely to find only superficial accounts whereas books on acoustics mostly assume a physics-based readership and are consequently too difficult for the general reader. "Acoustics for Audiologists" fills the gap. It can be read at several levels. At the most basic, it provides a full explanation of many of the general principles and special terms in acoustics that are relevant to clinical audiology and audiological science. The main text is supported by an introductory chapter covering the underlying physics, an appendix on the required mathematics, and worked examples and questions. At a more advanced level, the book answers the needs of students of audiological science and audiological medicine for whom previous studies have not included the physical sciences. It is written for audiologists, trainee audiological scientists, and students of audiological medicine. The supporting text includes a quick review of the relevant physics and mathematics. It contains special exercises in working with decibels. It also contains worked examples to assist self-study and as a source for taught courses. It features more than 170 figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123329226
Publisher:	Brill Academic Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/10/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	452
Product dimensions:	1.00(w) x 9.21(h) x 6.14(d)

About the Author

Peter Haughton was born in London in 1941. After obtaining a degree in physics he joined a small research team in the Astbury Department of Biophysics at the University of Leeds where he was awarded a PhD for work on the mechanical properties of cellulose. He also enjoyed a short-term appointment in the botany department of the University of Washington where he did similar work. Two brief period of employment followed, one at a technical college, teaching mathematics and physics, and one in the University of Glasgow working on the rheology of silicon-based liquids. In 1975 he joined the medical physics department at Hull Royal Infirmary where his principal duties were to provide scientific support for the ENT and audiology departments.

Table of Contents

The Basics Vibrations
Sound Waves
Sources of Sound
Nonsinusoidal Waveforms
Measuring Sound Impedance
Calibration and Testing of Audiometric Equipment
Audiometric Test Room Hearing Aids: Basic Electroacoustic Characteristics
Appendix A: Supplementary Mathematics
Appendix B: Working with Decibels Answers to Numerical Problems Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Diane M Brewer, MA (George Washington University)
Description: As the title states, this is a text on acoustics and physics for the audiologist.
Purpose: Many audiologists who come into the field have limited education in the mathematics and physics, which is necessary to understand the science of sound. The author provides background in math and physics needed to understand acoustics and then provides applications. This is a worthy objective in that this text strikes a balance between a text that is too simplistic and one which is so math/physics-based it becomes too difficult for the reader with limited mathematics and physical science background.
Audience: The acoustics text is written as a text preparatory to graduate study in audiology. It provides the foundation in hearing science needed to understand audiological applications.
Features: The book begins by reviewing basic concepts of physics. The next three chapters discuss vibrations, sound waves, sources of sound and nonsinusoidal waves. The remaining chapters are acoustical applications in audiology. There are chapters on sound measurement, impedance, calibration of equipment and test rooms and finally a chapter on hearing aids. Also provided are supplementary chapters with mathematics review and problems on the decibel. Each chapter has questions and exercises at the end with answers to problems in the back of the book. The text has some bias to British references, but this is an issue of minor importance.
Assessment: This is an excellent resource. The text provides a detailed explanation of the physics of sound and then provides applications in clinical audiology. This text should be useful to the study of hearing science prerequisite to graduate study of clinical audiology.

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4 Stars! from Doody