Hearing Physiology

This book incorporates updated developments as well as future perspectives in the ever-expanding field of hearing loss. This book can also serve as a reference for persons who are involved in this field whether they are clinicians, researchers, or patients.

This volume provides an up-to-date reference on the developments and novel ideas in the field of binaural hearing. The primary readership for the volume are specialists in the diverse fields such as psychoacoustics, neuroscience, engineering, psychology, audiology, hearing aids, and cochlear implants.

Cochlear implants have instigated a popular but controversial revolution in the treatment of deafness. This book discusses the physiological bases of using artificial devices to electrically stimulate the brain to interpret sounds. As the first successful device to restore neural function, the cochlear implant serves as a model for research in neuroscience and biomedical engineering. These and other auditory prostheses are discussed in the context of historical treatments, engineering, psychophysics and clinical issues as well as implications for speech, behavior, cognition and long-term effects on people.