This book fills a significant void in the clinical literature. There are key reference texts for each area of clinical work which should be on every departmental bookshelf, and Assessing Middle Ear Function in Infants joins that list.
It might be accessed by the full range of staff in an Audiology department, whether as a resource for learning, reminder of prior learning, or for knowledge extension. It is likely to be read from cover to cover by those confident with mathematical analysis, but in the earlier chapters some of the underlying principals of immittance measurement are dealt with in such clarity that any prior uncertainties should be overcome.
The editors invite expert contributors from around the world to review current research literature for chapters beginning with anatomy and physiology, and which progress through traditional immittance measures and end with future hope in the form of wideband acoustic transfer functions. These reviews are comprehensive, relevant and robust. The book is excellent value for money at £60, particularly were you to compare with the cost of conducting research of the literature yourself.
The chapters follow the format of explaining the underlying theory, developing the clinical application then giving case examples to illustrate the application of a range of clinical assessment paradigms giving insight into middle ear function. There are frequent tabular comparisons between the results of current clinical trials of each assessment type and there is a very welcome review of future directions including wideband energy reflectance which has yet to find a strong footing in UK practice.
My one reservation would be that the title might only attract paediatric audiologists when there is a comprehensive account of middle ear assessment for all ages within the covers.
