PAL Research Guide

The editor and contributors are all experts in their relative fields and work daily with professionals in the performing arts who are endangered by exposure to high-volume sound. Here they clearly present some of the anatomy and physiology of the hearing mechanism; medical problems associated with exposure to long-term, high volume sounds in the musical environment; and, in the bulk of the book, hearing protection and practical advice on preventive measures.

With chapters from audiology professionals from around the world, Advances in Audiology and Hearing Science presented in two volumes--provides an abundance of information on the latest technological and procedural advances in this ever-improving field. Volume 1 primarily focuses on revised clinical protocols and provides information on new research to help guide decisions and criteria regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment of hearing-related issues. Topics include new clinical applications such as auditory steady-state response, wideband acoustic immittance, otoacoustic emissions, frequency following response, noise exposure, genomics and hearing loss, and more. The volume also includes a section on canine audiology, allowing students and professionals a broader exposure to hearing science.  

Neurolaryngology brings together in one volume the latest concepts in this important and developing field. In order to make this text as useful as possible for clinicians, selected chapters on general concepts important to clinical care have been included, including chapters on history, physical examination, clinical voice laboratory assessment, common diagnoses and treatments, and other topics important to all voice patients, including those with neurolaryngological complaints. Starting with a perspective on modern voice medicine, including neurolaryngology and a brief historical overview of the development of laryngology, the text goes on to describe neuroanatomy and physiology, laryngeal function, and the role of chaos in voice disorders. It contains fascinating new ideas on applications of nonlinear dynamics to voice care and research, a topic of great relevance in neurolaryngology. Beginning the section on clinical assessment of voice disorders is a description of the current approach to history and physical examination recommended for patients with neurolaryngological voice disorders. The text contains the most current research and references throughout, presenting the latest information about many conditions, including some rarely covered in the laryngologic literature; it highlights diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of motor and sensory disorders that may impair voice. The interdisciplinary expertise of numerous authors has been invaluable in the preparation of this text; however, every effort has been made to maintain style and continuity throughout. Clinically relevant and thought provoking, Neurolaryngology is the definitive encyclopedic reference in this new subspecialty of laryngology.

This chapter presents the causes, strategies for prevention, and the process of rehabilitation for the most common injuries suffered by musicians. Basic anatomical structures such as joints, muscles, and the nervous system, are introduced as the foundation of healthy technique and the prevention of injury. The three categories of injuries discussed are musculoskeletal, vocal, and hearing. Causes, types, treatment, and warning signs for each category that might be observed by the instructor are discussed. Guidelines for how to support the student, depending on the severity of the concern, are offered with an emphasis on seeking professional help as early as is possible.