Why We Do What We Do: Research Underpinnings of Children's Hearing Assessment

Abstract

Reviews the book, Foundations of pediatric audiology: Identification and assessment by F. H. Bess and J. S. Gravel (2006). The collection of Bess and Gravel of 47 original papers brings the reader to the feet of the Masters to listen in on over three decades of scholarly conversation that shaped current practice in areas of pediatric audiology. Topics include normal development, behavioral audiometry, electrophysiology, early identification, infant hearing screening, and hearing loss due to recurrent otitis media or minimal/unilateral sensorineural impairment. Bess and Gravel’s major contribution to Foundations, in addition to authoring some of the articles, is the summaries that introduce each section. More valuable than most overviews, these are closer to the pithy commentaries of an historian about the research behind present-day practices, as well as some of the controversies. Reading primary resources is never for the faint of heart. This volume would best inform the inquiring student/practitioner who wants to know why, and who may be inspired to pursue a career in research. I envision graduate seminar students evaluating the evidence in each article, tracing the links from data to conclusions, and critiquing the leaps from experiment to practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)