Overview
Compression for Clinicians explains signal compression concepts and how to apply them to selecting and fitting hearing aids. The book covers anatomic and physiologic description of the cochlea, an overview of hearing aid fitting methods, loudness growth functions, the many ways compression is incorporated in hearing aids, the major classes of hearing aids and how compression is a factor in various hearing aid selection methods. Clinically relevant and extremely thorough, it is a complete guide to fitting compression hearing aids.
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Synopsis
Compression for Clinicians explains signal compression concepts and how to apply them to selecting and fitting hearing aids. The book covers anatomic and physiologic description of the cochlea, an overview of hearing aid fitting methods, loudness growth functions, the many ways compression is incorporated in hearing aids, the major classes of hearing aids and how compression is a factor in various hearing aid selection methods. Clinically relevant and extremely thorough, it is a complete guide to fitting compression hearing aids.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Linda Jacobs-Condit, AuD, CCC-A(George Washington University)
Description:This book explains how to apply the concepts of signal compression to the process of selecting and fitting hearing aids. Included are descriptions of the anatomy and physiology of the cochlear, overview of hearing aid fitting methods, and loudness growth functions. This edition also discusses the use of compression in selecting and fitting digital hearing aids. The first edition was published in 1998.
Purpose:The author wrote this second edition to bridge the transition from older analog hearing aid technology to newer digital hearing aids. The ultimate goal is to provide an understanding of how digital hearing aids have incorporated and combined various compression types, so that better clinical judgments can be made about the constantly changing digital technology.
Audience:According to the author, this is intended for those studying to become hearing healthcare professionals, as well as for practicing clinicians who need to refresh their knowledge base on hearing aids. The author is an expert in the hearing aid arena, and has worked as a practicing clinician, been a faculty professor at colleges in the U.S. and Canada, and conducted research/hearing aid field trials in the manufacturing arena.
Features:The book covers the anatomy and physiology of the cochlea as well as the problems posed by hair cell damage/cochlear dead regions and implications for fitting hearing aids. Chapters also cover the newest hearing aid technologies and include up-to-date discussions of the various fitting methods. There is also extensive coverage of digital microphones and digital noise reduction -- features unique to the newer digital hearing aid technologies. Clinical example and case studies provide context for real-world practice.
Assessment:This excellent book makes a difficult subject easier to understand. There is good transition from one chapter to the next, with clear summary points at the end of each chapter. Also included at the end of each chapter are review questions and recommended readings, in addition to the references.
Editorials
From the Publisher
This type of book could easily find a niche with Audiologists or hearing-aid dispensers...with some refocusing, it could easily become a classroom text or clinical reference guide to hearing aid fittings. - Jeffrey DiGiovanni, PhD, Ohio UniversityVenema's text covers compression in more depth than Dillon's text, and Venema covers the topic in a format that is easy to understand. Venema presents a difficult topic in a user-friendly format. - Rebecca Henning, PhD, University of Wisconsin
I think this would be a great required book for hearing aid dispensers to read prior to being licensed. I don't have any text that covers compression this thoroughly. I think this is a very good book that thoroughly covers an aspect of hearing aids that is often not clear to many audiologists and dispensers. It is written in a language that is easy to read and understand. - Sarah Hickey, McIntire Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic
It's very user friendly, but I think case reviews would make it a better teaching tool. The strength is the simple writing, which clearly makes the points. It's brevity is good, as it's not overwhelming. The vision for the revision is good, but I think if it includes a few more technology topics it will be even more valuable. - Teri A. Hamill, Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University
From The Critics
Reviewer: Linda Jacobs-Condit, AuD, CCC-A(George Washington University)Description: This book explains how to apply the concepts of signal compression to the process of selecting and fitting hearing aids. Included are descriptions of the anatomy and physiology of the cochlear, overview of hearing aid fitting methods, and loudness growth functions. This edition also discusses the use of compression in selecting and fitting digital hearing aids. The first edition was published in 1998.
Purpose: The author wrote this second edition to bridge the transition from older analog hearing aid technology to newer digital hearing aids. The ultimate goal is to provide an understanding of how digital hearing aids have incorporated and combined various compression types, so that better clinical judgments can be made about the constantly changing digital technology.
Audience: According to the author, this is intended for those studying to become hearing healthcare professionals, as well as for practicing clinicians who need to refresh their knowledge base on hearing aids. The author is an expert in the hearing aid arena, and has worked as a practicing clinician, been a faculty professor at colleges in the U.S. and Canada, and conducted research/hearing aid field trials in the manufacturing arena.
Features: The book covers the anatomy and physiology of the cochlea as well as the problems posed by hair cell damage/cochlear dead regions and implications for fitting hearing aids. Chapters also cover the newest hearing aid technologies and include up-to-date discussions of the various fitting methods. There is also extensive coverage of digital microphones and digital noise reduction — features unique to the newer digital hearing aid technologies. Clinical example and case studies provide context for real-world practice.
Assessment: This excellent book makes a difficult subject easier to understand. There is good transition from one chapter to the next, with clear summary points at the end of each chapter. Also included at the end of each chapter are review questions and recommended readings, in addition to the references.