Anatomy and Physiology for Speech, Language, and Hearing

From The Critics

Reviewer: Jennifer Elaine Speer, M.A.(George Washington University)
Description: This book is designed to educate students on the basic anatomy and physiology involved in speech, hearing, and swallowing. It also includes interactive study software. The previous edition was published in 2001.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide education on the anatomical structures of the speech and hearing systems, as well as their function and relationships to one another. This information is crucial for higher level learning in speech and hearing sciences and the authors are successful in meeting their objectives.
Audience: This book is written for upper division undergraduate students and/or graduate students in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology, according to the authors. It appears from their biographies that the authors are credible authorities.
Features: This is a general overview of anatomical terminology, and anatomy and physiology of respiration, phonation, articulation and resonance, mastication and deglutition, and hearing. It also briefly discusses neuroanatomy and neurophysiology important for speech and hearing. The pictures and diagrams help make the complex material easier to comprehend. Most of this information is new to students, and the pictures/diagrams help them to visualize the structures and functions being discussed. The supplemental CD is also an excellent way to facilitate multimodal learning. Students who have difficulty fully comprehending the text find the animations and questions on the CD extremely helpful. Though the pictures and diagrams of the book are helpful, the lack of color is a shortcoming. Adding color to at least some of the pictures would help the students relate the information to real life anatomy. Also, the book is at times confusing due to poor organization. There are times when information that has not yet been introduced is in an explanation for a separate structure. For students who have never been introduced to this information before, this can be confusing. But, overall, the information is related in a way that is understandable to someone who is being exposed to it for the first time.
Assessment: This is a useful publication for a speech and hearing sciences curriculum. It provides an excellent foundation for further learning in the field. Students who are new to the information in this book will find that it is related in a concise manner with language that is moderately easy to follow. The supplemental CD helps to facilitate complete understanding of the material via interactive technology. The authors have also acknowledged the importance of swallowing physiology by dedicating an entire chapter to it. Given the importance of swallowing disorders in the field of speech-language pathology, this addition justifies replacing the prior edition.

Yaser Al Natour

This is a well-organized survey of anatomy and physiology of speech, language, and hearing. The purpose is to provide a basis for understanding the communication process by relating it to the underlying structures and functions. This book satisfies a need in the field. Students and practitioners of speech pathology and audiology, especially those interested in medical speech language pathology, are the intended audience. The authors did a very good job providing a basis for understanding communication processes through relating them to the specific structures and functions of concern. In terms of content, the book has been simplified to meet the needs of students. I have used this book in teaching an anatomy and physiology class for speech and audiology majors. Students expressed their appreciation of the details provided and the software included. For me, as an instructor, the process of preparing graphs for quizzes and exams was simplified because I had this book available. Margin notes were also helpful. Comparing the current edition to the one I used previously (the expanded edition published in 1997), I find that interesting additions have taken place. Examples are Appendix H and the updated, user-friendlier software. One major area of improvement would be the software. Still, students express the need for clearer images. The black-and-white images were not inviting nor stimulating (e.g., Figure 7-33, p. 317), and then when put on a Power Point slide, the images become even more confusing. Improving the software can be done by using color images and, if possible, three-dimensional images. This would be a great addition to an already pleasant experience. Another area of improvementwould be related to reorganizing the chapters so that each would have its own section of related terminology.

Booknews

This textbook for students in the speech and hearing sciences is organized around the four classic systems of speech: the respiratory, phonatory, articulatory/resonatory, and nervous systems. Anatomy and physiology concepts are integrated with clear and current clinical information. The included disk contains 52 self-paced lessons as well as quizzes and tests. It automatically records students' scores and monitors progress. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

3 Stars from Doody