This is a hardcover volume printed on a high-quality paper. The book is broken into 20 short chapters over 145 pages. It is illustrated with 149 figures. Edited by Eric P Wilkinson and Marc S Schwartz, both based in the USA, the work was written by a large number of international contributors, many of whom were involved in pioneering work with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs).
I found the book easy to read and, in general, clearly written. One of the objectives of the book was to provide an approachable, introductory text for the different members of the multidisciplinary team typically involved in caring for patients who use ABIs. I found it excellent reading for people starting in the field of ABIs, including myself. The contents provided enough depth to give a lead into further exploration of the topics, but not so much as to bog down a non-specialist. There were times when I wished for more detail on certain topics, particularly those that touched on my own work areas, but perhaps this would have gone beyond the aim of the text as it was conceived.
The opening and final chapters cover the development of ABIs from past to present, starting from the ball electrodes of early days working through the development of mid-brain implants, and ending with an exploration of optogenetics for future devices. In between, there are chapters covering the basics to understand the use of ABIs (neuroanatomy and physiology, and imaging techniques), and chapters presenting the reader with the multistage process of clinical intervention with ABIs. These address topics ranging from patient candidacy and consideration of alternative solutions, to surgical approaches, intraoperative monitoring, programming, rehabilitation and outcome assessment. There are also chapters covering specialised populations such as children, and speakers of tonal languages.
Access to electronic content in PDF format is provided with the book. This was easy to find and chapters can be downloaded using the interface. I particularly liked the fact that one can download citation data for inclusion in library collections.
I think this book would be a great addition to any ENT/audiology department library, and I would definitely recommend it to other professionals working in the field of hearing implants.
