Hearing Science Fundamentals - Third Edition

Norman J. Lass, Jeremy J. Donai

Details: 374 pages, 2-Color, Softcover, 7" x 10"

ISBN13: 978-1-63550-772-0

Publication Date: September 2025

Hearing Science Fundamentals, Third Edition introduces the basic concepts in hearing science in an easy-to-understand format for undergraduate and graduate level students. This textbook includes a wide variety of student-friendly features designed to facilitate learning, as well as instructor resources for seamless integration to the course. The text is divided into four clear sections to cover everything from the physics of sound to the anatomy and physiology of the auditory pathway and beyond. The textbook begins by delving into the basics of acoustics and digital signal processing (DSP). In the next section, readers will find full coverage of the basic anatomy and physiology of the auditory mechanism. The third section contains eight chapters on psychoacoustics and how sound is perceived via the auditory pathways. The final section discusses pathologies of the auditory mechanisms. Multiple disorders from each portion of the auditory system are described in detail. These chapters are intended to provide an introduction to auditory pathologies to support future coursework in audiology and related fields.

New to the Third Edition

• Inclusion of additional Clinical Notes and computational examples in text
• Discussion topics provided at the end of each chapter to assist with student understanding of chapter material
• Additional topics included in multiple chapters such as information on auditory scene analysis (navigating the auditory scene) and the various decibel scales (dB SL, dB HL, etc.)
• Links to helpful videos to enhance student understanding of topics from each chapter
• Additional PluralPlus online ancillary content including updated student study questions, eFlashcards for vocabulary development, and additional computational examples to enhance student understanding

Key Features

• Learning Objectives and Key Terms at the beginning of each chapter prepare the student for the chapter contents
• More than 150 anatomical and line illustrations aid understanding of important technical concepts
• Q&A boxes reinforce important information presented in the text
• Suggested readings at the end of each chapter for further clarification and study of the technical contents of each chapter
• A Glossary of important terms

PluralPlus Online Ancillaries

For instructors: PowerPoint Slides, Test Bank, Class Activities
For students: Quizzes, eFlashcards

Companion Website

Reviews

"This book is clearly written with the information presented in understandable language. There is a well-organized sequence of presented concepts. The Q&A and Clinical Note sections were especially valuable in that they provide the reader with relevant clinical correlates to various acoustic, psychoacoustic, and audiologic concepts. This book is an excellent resource for both undergraduate and graduate students."
—Mary Kassa, AuD, Associate Professor of Teaching / Audiology Program Coordinator, Wayne State University and Clinical Audiologist, Henry Ford Health

"The manuscript is a well-organized, comprehensive textbook with clear and concise explanations of complex hearing science concepts. It effectively integrates key themes and provides helpful supplemental materials, such as clinical notes, vocabulary checkpoints, and review sections, which reinforce learning and enhance understanding."
—Diana Blakeney-Billings, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Alabama A&M University

"I’ve researched and used many other textbooks for my Hearing Science course, and I am really impressed with all that has been added to assist students in learning the concepts of acoustics and anatomy and physiology. ... I like the clinical notes to apply the content to clinic, which is what most of the students are planning to do in the future. Very few students go into research, and most Hearing Science textbooks are geared towards research and not clinic.  ...Overall, I am very impressed with the updates and changes that have been made in this 3^rd edition."
—Tiffany Shelton, MS, AuD, CCC-A, Clinical Assistant Professor, Utah State University

"I appreciate the clinical applications that are featured throughout, and that attention is brought to both audiology & speech pathology throughout, so that future professionals of both and related fields are learning clinical applications throughout the whole text."
—Rachel Brenna Lieberman, AuD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins Cochlear Implant Center