Cochlear Implants is now in its third edition with the last addition being published in 2006. With the third edition being published in 2014 there have been eight years of development and research to take in to account and as a result there have been a number of chapter revisions and additions. In spite of this the new edition very much follows in the same mould as the previous editions in terms of its structure and layout.
The chapter on ‘Genetics of Hearing Loss’ has been revised by a new set of authors and provides a good algorithm for the genetic testing of cochlear implant candidates. There are also a number of completely new chapters, such as ‘Auditory Neuroplasticity’ to account for the increased level of research being carried out in neurophysiology. Other useful chapters look at ‘Global Device Reliability’, ‘Revision Cochlear Implantation’ and ‘Quality of Life Outcomes’.
These chapters are new and reflect the increasing evidence base and importance of measuring outcomes. The chapter on ‘Cochelar Implant Surgical Techniques’ is a nice read and would appeal to the trainee grade of surgeon. With 1714 references the contents of this book have been well researched by the predominately US authorship and it therefore provides a good review of this field.
Whilst I found it an easy and interesting read, this book is really for the aspiring cochear implant surgeon. What is disappointing is the lack of colourful pictures and diagrams which Thieme books are normally known for, especially as Cochelar Implants is now in its third edition and seems to be targeting a broader readership.
