CRC HRNG INTRO PSYCH PHYS ACSTCS PDF

Preface

This is the fourth edition of a textbook intended to introduce the beginning graduate student to the sciences of hearing, as well as to rekindle the interests of the experienced reader. Students of hearing science are often faced with the frustrating dilemma imposed by textbooks that are either too basic or too advanced. This problem is complicated by the widely divergent backgrounds of those who become interested in hearing. The idea is to provide a volume sufficiently detailed to be useful as a core text, yet not so dependent upon prior knowledge that it would be beyond the grasp of most students. It is doubtful that all of the material covered in this text would be addressed in a single, one semester course.

It is more likely that this book might be used as a core text for a two-course sequence dealing with psychological and physiological acoustics, along with appropriately selected readings from the research literature and state-of-the-art books. Suggested readings are provided in context throughout the text to provide a firm foundation for further study.

As a fourth edition, this book has been influenced considerably by the comments and suggestions provided by colleagues and graduate students for whom it is principally intended. As a result of their input, the basic approach, structure, format, and the general (and often irregular) depth of coverage used in the earlier editions have been maintained wherever possible; many new and revised figures have been included; and the practices of providing references at the end of each chapter and liberally referring the reader to other sources for further study have been retained.

Hearing science is an exciting area of study because of its broad, interdisciplinary scope, and even more because it is vital and dynamic. Research continuously provides new information to expand on the old and also causes us to rethink what was once well established. The reader (particularly the beginning student) is reminded that new findings occasionally disprove the ‘‘laws'' of the past. Thus, this textbook should be treated as a first step; it is by no means the final word.

With these ideas in mind, the principal goals of this edition were to present new topics and update the existing text and references to reflect developments in the field. However, some of the hardest decisions involved choosing material that could be streamlined, replaced or omitted without loosing the orientation and flavor of the book. This was done while being ever mindful that this text is meant for students with broadly different backgrounds and interests, and is by no stretch of the imagination intended to be a ‘‘state-of-the-art'' treatise.

My sincerest thanks are expressed to the numerous colleagues and students who provided me with valuable suggestions that have been incorporated into this edition. I am especially indebted to my current and former colleagues and students in the Department of Linguistics and Communication Disorders at Queens College and the Ph.D. Program in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the City University of New York. Thank you all for being continuous examples of excellence and for your valued friendships. I am also grateful to the dedicated and talented staff of Marcel Dekker, Inc., who contributed so much to this book, and graciously arranged for the preparation of the indices and the proofreading of the final page proofs.

At the risk of inadvertently omitting several, I would like to thank the following people for their influence and support which have taken forms too numerous to mention: Sandra Beberman, Moe Bergman, Dana Bigelow, Arthur Boothroyd, Helen Cairns, Joseph Danto, Lillian and Sol Gelfand, Irving Hochberg, Gertrude and Oscar Katzen, John Lutolf, Tara McCartney, Neil Piper, Teresa Schwander, Stanley Schwartz, Shlomo Silman, Carol Silverman, Harris, Helen and Gabe Topel, and Mark Weiss. Very special gratitude is expressed to Harry Levitt, who will always be my professor, and to Maurice H. Miller, who suggested that I prepare the first edition of this book. They have always been and continue to be cherished sources of advice, inspiration and confidence.

Finally, my deepest gratitude goes to Janice, the love of my life, whose memory will always be a blessing and inspiration; and to my children, Michael, Joshua, and Jessica, for their love, support, confidence, and unparalleled patience.