Reviewer: Matthew Rouse, MS, SLP.D., CCC-SLP(Biola University)
Description: As the title indicates, this book focuses on the anatomy and physiology of speech, language, and hearing as well as swallowing. This sixth edition provides revised and updated information, new figures and photographs, and clinical notes to connect the content to clinical practice. The book has an accompanying website on the PluralPlus platform. The previous editions edition was published in 2016 by Cengage Learning.
Purpose: The purpose is to teach anatomy and physiology, but in a selective way. Instead of the anatomy and physiology of the whole body, the book is designed to teach the five classic systems of speech and hearing, and it does an admirable job. This kind of knowledge is foundational to those who want to enter the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology and work as clinicians or those interested in pursuing doctoral studies in speech, language, and hearing science.
Audience: The audience is upper division undergraduate or graduate students in fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Tony Seikel and Daniel Hudock are recognized experts in the field who are supported by David Drumright with graphics and courseware. These authors are successful in writing an accessible book for the intended audience.
Features: The book covers the anatomy and physiology of respiration, phonation, articulation, resonance, swallowing, and hearing, as well as neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. The writing is clear, and the book is well organized, covering each of these topics well. Each chapter has important terms and reminders of Anaquest lessons (software that accompanies the book) in the margins. Periodic summaries appear throughout the chapters, along with a summary at the end. The book is beautifully illustrated with helpful color figures, tables, and charts. The book also includes chapter study questions with answers, an up-to-date bibliography, appendixes, a glossary, and an extensive index.
Assessment: This is the go-to resource for anatomy and physiology in speech, language, and hearing. Speech and Hearing Science: Anatomy and Physiology, 4th edition, Zemlin (Pearson, 1998) was the go-to book, but this one has replaced the Zemlin, which is now outdated. There are other choices, such as Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing, Rousseau and Branski (Thieme, 2018), and Applied Anatomy and Physiology for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Fuller et al. (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012), but Seikel's book is the gold standard. Overall, this book is an extremely useful tool for undergraduate and graduate students studying speech-language pathology or audiology.
