This text, edited by experienced academic and private otolaryngologists at different points in their careers, as well as an attorney, reviews the current literature related to otolaryngology malpractice litigation, and discusses strategies to decrease liability and enhance patient safety. It examines the most recent trial decisions in otolaryngology and determines which procedures are most commonly litigated in the current medicolegal environment. The text provides otolaryngologists with tips and pearls on how to prevent malpractice litigation, and discusses key actions to take when faced with malpractice litigation. Strategies for minimizing liability as well as the factors brought up in malpractice litigation related to otolaryngology - head and neck surgery are also discussed.Litigation In Otolaryngology will be a useful resource for all involved in the care of otolaryngologic patients (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc.), those concerned with the legal aspect of such care (including malpractice attorneys), and healthcare policy makers.

Common forms of preventable hearing loss are drug and noise-induced hearing loss which are believed to be produced by a similar mechanism. The generation of reactive oxygen species appears to be a common mechanism mediating hearing loss produced by these different sources. As such, a number of laboratories have focused their research towards identifying the sources of ROS production in the cochlea following administration of chemotherapeutic agents or noise exposure. This led to the identification of ROS generating enzymes, such as xanthine oxidases, nitric oxide synthase, and NADPH oxidases which are activated and/or induced during the development of hearing loss. A consequence of these findings was the implementation of antioxidants in preclinical studies for the treatment of hearing loss. These antioxidants have provided different levels of protection in animal and human studies, but none of these have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hearing loss. More recently, it was shown that noise-induced hearing loss was associated with recruitment of inflammatory cells and mediators in the cochlea. This finding would suggest that noise could produce injury to the cochlea which stimulates local and/or circulating inflammatory cells. A similar finding was observed in the cochlea following administration of the anticancer drug, cisplatin. In addition, our laboratory and others have provided a plausible mechanism by which noise or chemotherapeutic agents could stimulate the inflammatory response. Surprisingly, this mechanism involves ROS activation of transcription factors linked to inflammatory processes in the cochlea. These studies have led to the use of anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of hearing loss. Preliminary studies targeting inflammatory cytokines appear especially promising in preclinical studies. A primary goal of this project is to describe our current understanding of the oxidant hypothesis of noise and drug-induced hearing loss and show how this relates to cochlear inflammation. Several different aspects of the cochlear inflammatory process will be discussed in detail, ranging from the sources of inflammatory cells, chemokines, inflammatory cytokines, and cochlea resident immune cells. Molecular pathways leading to activation of the local inflammatory process will be highlighted and treatment options will be discussed. The relevance of certain clinically used anti-inflammatory interventions, such as trans-typmanic steroids will also be discussed. Furthermore, we will examine recent patents focusing on the use of anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of drug and noise-induced hearing loss.

This revised and expanded second edition provides a comprehensive and up-to-date pictorial overview of the majority of ENT conditions. When making a diagnosis, it is of paramount importance that the ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist views the lesion and recognizes its pathology. Recent advances in endoscopic technology have enabled us to obtain clear images of such lesions and have changed our approach to diseases and techniques in the fields of ENT and head and neck surgery. Featuring schematic drawings to make difficult topics more understandable, the book supports beginners in their search for the correct diagnosis, and increases their understanding of basic surgical approaches. It provides fundamental information required for diagnosis and treatment in an easily accessible form, while the tables, photographs and schematic drawings allow readers to grasp the problems quickly. It is also a useful guide for all experts involved in teaching diagnostic and surgical skills. Diagnosis in Otorhinolaryngology 2nd Edition is intended for general practitioners, medical students and ENT trainees, fellows, academicians and teachers.

The Oxford Handbook of Head and Neck Anatomy offers a succinct yet comprehensive quick reference guide with over 400 schematic colour and grey-scale illustrations. It tackles the notoriously difficult three-dimensional anatomy of the head and neck and provides essential clinico-anatomical correlates, etymology and background insight to help the reader easily remember complex features. Written and illustrated throughout with an awareness of the difficulties faced in linking the anatomy on the page with real cases seen in day-to-day clinical practice, this handbook is an essential resource for trainees and students at all levels.

Die deutschen Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Kliniken.- Arnstadt.- Aue.- Augsburg.- Bad Hersfeld.- Bad Lippspringe.- Bad Saarow-Pieskow.- Bad Salzungen.- Bautzen.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Berlin.- Bielefeld.- Bitterfeld.- Bonn-Bad Godesberg.- Borna.- Brandenburg.- Braunschweig.- Bremen.- Bremen.- Bremen.- Bremerhaven.- Buchholz.- Chemnitz.- Cottbus.- Darmstadt.- Dessau.- Dortmund.- Dortmund.- Dresden.- Dusseldorf.- Dusseldorf.- Dusseldorf.- Duisburg.- Eberswalde.- Erfurt.- Essen.- Essen.- Frankfurt/Main.- Frankfurt/Main.- Frankfurt/Oder.- Fulda.- Gelsenkirchen.- Gera.- Gerolzhofen.- Goerlitz.- Gustrow.- Gummersbach.- Hagen.- Halberstadt.- Halle/Saale.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamburg.- Hamm.- Hannover.- Heilbronn.- Hennigsdorf.- Hettstedt.- Hoyerswerda.- Kaiserslautern.- Karlsruhe.- Karlsruhe.- Karlsruhe.- Kassel.- Koblenz.- Koblenz.- Koeln.- Koeln.- Koeln.- Koenigs Wusterhausen.- Krefeld.- Lahr.- Leipzig.- Leipzig.- Ludwigshafen.- Lubben.- Lubeck.- Ludenscheid.- Magdeburg.- Minden/Westfalen.- Moenchengladbach.- Munchen.- Munchen.- Neubrandenburg.- Neuruppin.- Neuss.- Nordhausen.- Nurnberg.- Oldenburg.- Oldenburg.- Osnabruck.- Pforzheim.- Pirna.- Plauen.- Potsdam.- Quedlinburg.- Radebeul.- Recklinghausen.- Remscheid.- Ribnitz-Damgarten.- Riesa.- Rotenburg (Wumme).- Russelsheim.- Saarbrucken.- Schwedt/Oder.- Schwerin.- Siegen.- Solingen.- Stade.- Stollberg/Erzgebirge.- Stralsund.- Straubing.- Stuttgart.- Stuttgart.- Stuttgart.- Suhl.- Templin.- Trier.- Ulm.- Waren (Muritz).- Weimar.- Wiesbaden.- Winsen (Luhe).- Wolfsburg.- Wolmirstedt.- Wuppertal.- Wuppertal.- Zeitz.- Zwickau.- Namenverzeichnisu.- Firmenportraits.

Head and neck ultrasound is a standard radiological examination performed at most hospitals. It is an important topic and all specialist registrars in radiology will need to learn how to scan the organs and structures of the head and neck. This book covers normal anatomy and provides a comprehensive account of pathological processes in all of the head and neck structures, including the vasculature. With excellent diagrams and high quality images, it illustrates the key technical and diagnostic steps needed by both trainee and established radiographers or radiologists. It provides clear guidance on scanning technique, potential pitfalls and common problems, and how to achieve optimum image quality. Key topics include: normal anatomy of the head and neck region, practical scanning technique, the salivary glands, the thyroid and parathyroid, lymph nodes, cystic masses, the larynx, what the surgeon needs to know and why, biopsy techniques and basic vascular ultrasound.

Music and Hearing Aids: A Clinical Approach is written for hearing health care professionals working with hard-of-hearing musicians and music lovers. This highly relevant text breaks down the research for how music can, and should be, processed through modern hearing aids and offers the busy audiologist clinically based strategies to optimize the sound of amplified music for hard of hearing people. With an easy-to-read style, this text meets audiologists where they are by providing a primer on wavelength acoustics, as well as walking the reader through the basics of music needed to understand the research available. In addition, this professional resource highlights gaps in the research and technology, offering a clear picture of the room for growth available in the field. Key Features A wide range of information covered in a concise text with 26 figures and 7 tables Statements throughout the book of where more work still needs to be done with 12 mini-experiments that could form the basis of student research projects A balanced discussion of clinical practice and research A chapter discussing "A return to older technology?" that includes input from many musicians who wear hearing aids A PluralPlus companion website with 15 audio files that serve to drive home the points presented in the text From the Foreward by Dr. Mead C. Killion: "A major feature of this book is the extensive review of the literature. In each case, the relevance of the research findings to their implications for hearing aid design and fitting is emphasized.... A wealth of research is summarized with an eye to the clinical environment and fitting of hearing aids for listening to, and playing music."

This book explains how medical photography is part of the workflow in many specialties: it is needed for registries, to preserve information, for follow up, second opinion and teaching, among others. The book gathers information on this field, providing valuable practical tips for those that have never used photography for medical uses as well as those who use it regularly. Covering specialities ranging from dermatology, plastic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology and endoscopy to forensic medicine, specimen photography and veterinary medicine, it highlights standardization for each procedure and relevance to ethical, patients' perception of medical photography, cybersecurity and legal aspects. The book also presents practical sections explaining how to organize a photographic file, coding, reimbursement, compliance, use of social media and preservation as well as in depth concepts on sharp focus on blurred vision. This volume will appeal to all clinicians and practitioners interested in acquiring a high level of technical skill in medical photography.

This book explains the nature of sound both as a physical phenomenon and as a sensation, how it travels through air and water, and how the hearing system evolved to convert these vibrations into sensations. Drawing on physics, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, literature, history, anecdote, and personal experience, "Now Hear This" is a wide-ranging exploration of the nature of sound and hearing that opens up a fascinating world of sounds from the mundane to the unusual and seeks above all to persuade the reader of the wisdom of John Cage's advice that "Wherever we are what we hear is mostly noise. When we ignore it, it disturbs us. When we listen to it, we find it fascinating."

The essential multidisciplinary guide for the prevention and management of vascular injury from master skull base surgeons Vascular injury is the most significant source of morbidity or mortality during skull base surgery, regardless of the surgical approach. While skull base approaches always placed arteries and veins at risk, newer endoscopic endonasal approaches have introduced new challenges for the prevention and management of vascular injury. Greater anatomic knowledge, additional surgical options, improved instrumentation, advances in interventional neuroradiology, and enhanced training all contribute to successful outcomes. Vascular Challenges in Skull Base Surgery by renowned skull base experts Paul Gardner, Carl Snyderman, Brian Jankowitz, and distinguished contributors, fills a gap in the literature, with invaluable guidance on managing rare but potentially catastrophic surgical complications. The full range of surgical approaches to the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae are covered in 22 chapters. Diverse topics encompass open and endoscopic endonasal surgical approaches, endovascular techniques including balloon test occlusion and embolization, and standard and alternative bypass procedures. The last three chapters discuss venous considerations, neurophysiologic monitoring, and the role of training and simulation in vascular injury prevention. Key learning points, illustrated discussion of relevant anatomy, and tips and tricks are targeted at helping skull base surgeons leverage practical strategies to improve patient outcomes. Key Highlights An impressive group of expert, highly-experienced surgeons share firsthand knowledge Insightful analyses of root causes and clinical pearls provide indispensable prevention tactics High-quality images and videos enhance visual understanding of surgical anatomy and techniques Trainees and practicing skull base surgeons will greatly benefit from the collective knowledge and evidence-based injury avoidance strategies shared by authors who have learned to master the art of skull base surgery. This book includes complimentary access to a digital copy on https://medone.thieme.com.

This book explores computational fluid dynamics in the context of the human nose, allowing readers to gain a better understanding of its anatomy and physiology and integrates recent advances in clinical rhinology, otolaryngology and respiratory physiology research. It focuses on advanced research topics, such as virtual surgery, AI-assisted clinical applications and therapy, as well as the latest computational modeling techniques, controversies, challenges and future directions in simulation using CFD software. Presenting perspectives and insights from computational experts and clinical specialists (ENT) combined with technical details of the computational modeling techniques from engineers, this unique reference book will give direction to and inspire future research in this emerging field.

This book includes contributions from one of the most experienced and well known paediatric cochlear implant teams in the world. It covers the entire spectrum of care from initial referral through to monitoring long term progress. Contributions come from teachers, speech and language therapists, surgeons, scientists and from parents of implanted children. Detailed accounts of assessment and habilitation techniques and procedures will appeal to experienced practitioners and to students.

In recent years, our understanding of the unified airway concept has become paramount in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of sinonasal, airway, and respiratory disorders. The relationship between sinonasal inflammatory disorders, such as chronic rhinosinusitis, and pulmonary disorders, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, is being examined more closely than ever before. This volume comprehensively reviews and discusses the unified airway approach, and more closely examines the relationship between sinonasal inflammatory disorders and pulmonary disorders. The text is formatted as an easy to read reference with bulleted points and sample case studies that maximize the clinical value of the evidence and data described. In addition to exploring chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis, other topics include pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, chronic bronchiectasis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, immunodeficiencies, and the unified airway microbiome. Rhinologic Disease and Respiratory Disorders will be an invaluable guide for practicing otolaryngologists, allergists, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists-in-training, and rhinologists. Foreword written by David W. Kennedy and Elina M. Toskala.

This volume presents and analyses the ongoing arguments, controversies, challenges and debates on thyroid disease with a view to clarifying some uncertainties, and to making suggestions that will help resolve others.Issues such as thyroid disease during pregnancy, Hashimoto's disease, Hurthle cell lesions, solitary thyroid nodules, retrosternal goiter, thyroid cancer, recurrent thyroid disease, thyroidectomy techniques, post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, and thyroid auto-transplantation are thoroughly explored. Richly illustrated, the book offers an invaluable tool for all specialists and trainees entrusted with the care of patients suffering from thyroid disease.

Hearing loss is the most common form of sensory impairment in humans, affecting 360 million persons worldwide. In parallel, tinnitus disorder, the perception of a phantom sound often described as a ringing or buzzing, affects around 10-15% of the general population and interferes with daily life. Hyperacusis, defined as a hypersensitivity to moderate-intensity sounds often co-occurs with tinnitus suggesting a common mechanism of dysfunction for these two perceptual disorders. Whereas some drug candidates are in the process of being developed, nowadays no effective treatment exists to cure hearing loss and tinnitus. The topic of this book was selected with the goal of emphasizing mechanisms that induce hearing loss and tinnitus which lead the selection of promising targets for hearing disorder treatment. Hair cells (HC) are the sensory cells of the inner ear required for both auditory and vestibular functions in all vertebrates. HC are progressively lost during ageing and they are in addition sensitive to physical and acoustic traumas, infectious diseases and chemicals present in commonly used treatments such as anticancer, antimalarial or antibiotics. As adult mammals--including humans--cannot regenerate dead HC, all the possible injury could result in irreversible and permanent hearing loss. It has been shown, however, that a limited capacity to regenerate HC exists in mouse at an early stage of development. The regenerative capacity of HC then appears simply "repressed" in adult mammals, and one could expect it will be possible to re-activate it with an appropriate therapeutic approach which is still to be defined. Immune-mediated inner ear disease has been introduced and accepted as one SNHL pathophysiology; it responds to immunosuppressive therapy and is one of the few reversible forms of bilateral SNHL. Macrophages are always present in the spiral ligament of the lateral wall and are activated in response to various types of stimuli, including noise exposure, ischemia, mitochondrial damage, and surgical stress. Recent studies have also revealed another type of immune cell, called perivascular melanocyte-like macrophages (PVM/Ms), in the stria vascularis. The book will include a review of inflammatory/immune cells in the cochlear lateral wall, the pathways involved in cochlear damage and their potential as therapeutic targets. The final chapter provides an overview of current animal model of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Nowadays no effective treatment exists to cure tinnitus and hyperacusis. One major obstacle to arises from the fact that tinnitus is a subjective phenomenon, the only possible diagnosis relies on self-reports of the subjects. The main constraint of the use of animal models is the subjective character of tinnitus. This chapter describe the advancement in animal models which play an important role in revealing the underlying mechanisms and treatment for tinnitus and hyperacusis.

This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of dysphagia. The text reviews current evidence behind the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of esophageal disorders that cause dysphagia, including GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia, and spastic motor disorders. The book also focuses on the different variants of dysphagia, from oropharyngeal dysphagia to functional dysphagia, highlights advances in testing for dysphagia, and features evidence-based algorithms. Written by experts in the field, Evaluation and Management of Dysphagia: An Evidence-Based Approach is a valuable resource for gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, and other clinicians and practitioners who treat patients afflicted with dysphagia.

Die Forschung zu Diagnostik und Behandlung von Dysphagien verschiedenster Stoerungsbilder bei Erwachsenen und Kindern hat in Deutschland in den letzten zwanzig Jahren deutlich an Bedeutung gewonnen. Der Arbeitskreis Dysphagie Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Kooperation mit dem Studiengang der Klinischen Linguistik an der Universitat Bielefeld befasst sich im Rahmen einer zweijahrig stattfindenden Tagung speziell mit aktuellen Fragen dieser Thematik. Der vorliegende Band diskutiert aktuelle Forschungsfragen und Ergebnisse aus Diagnostik und Therapie.

The Understanding the Common Cold chart examines the causes, symptoms and treatment of this respiratory problem. Images and text show normal and affected sinuses, both overall and at a tissue level, and inflammation of the bronchial airway. Heavy cover stock with protective varnish for durability.

State-of-the-art approaches and insightful discussions on challenging topics in skull base surgery Advances in endoscopic, microsurgical, radiosurgical, and pharmacotherapeutic strategies have revolutionized the treatment of skull base pathologies. Controversies in Skull Base Surgery, edited by Andrew Little and Michael Mooney and authored by esteemed multidisciplinary contributors, focuses on management strategies and treatment options for a wide range of tumors affecting the skull base, while addressing the most urgent and challenging questions facing skull base surgeons today. Throughout nine sections and 46 chapters, experts describe the treatment of neoplasms such as vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, chordoma, cranial nerve schwannoma, sinonasal malignancies, and others. In many chapters, authors provide instructional case studies and suggestions for future studies to help clarify areas of controversy. This textbook is unique in that it tackles problems typically minimized or ignored by other texts that impact a patient's quality of life and recovery. Key Highlights Reader-friendly tables feature concise summaries, author pearls, and levels of available evidence Pearls and insights on hotly debated issues such as the role of radiosurgery, surgery vs. medical management, radical resection vs. subtotal resection, and proton-beam vs. photon therapy for various pathologic conditions Controversies not frequently discussed in depth, including the use of lumbar drains, postoperative antibiotics, and cerebral revascularization in skull base surgery; multidisciplinary collaboration in endoscopic endonasal surgery; skull base reconstruction techniques; and the future of robotics in skull base surgery This stellar resource will benefit all residents and advanced practice providers who evaluate and treat patients with skull base pathologies, including neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, and radiation and medical oncologists. This book includes complimentary access to a digital copy on https://medone.thieme.com.

The age at which children are receiving cochlear implants has dropped dramatically; some children now undergo surgery when less than 12 months old. Considerable feedback is required from the patient in order to set the device optimally. This can be difficult in very young children, who may be unable to provide any behavioral information. It is therefore vital that objective measures are available in order to evaluate the device and auditory system function, set the programming parameters, and even assess performance. This book covers cochlear implant objective measures used before, during and after surgery. It provides a handbook for clinicians detailing the many techniques currently used, including telemetry, averaged electrode voltages, and electrically--evoked stapedial reflexes, auditory brainstem responses, compound action potentials, middle, late and event--related potentials. The internationally respected chapter authors from Europe and the USA provide coverage of the objective measures used in several commercially available cochlear implant devices. This book is required reading for clinicians in cochlear implant centers, researchers and those in the commercial implant field worldwide.

The aim of this book is to give a short and practical account of the problems related to the ear, nose and throat. The presenta tion is orientated towards arriving at a diagnosis based on the presenting symptoms and signs and aid the management of the case. While it is specifically intended for those who have not had the opportunity of devoting much time to the subject, I hope that it may be of some service to the more experienced practitioner. Padman Ratnesar Farn boro ugh, 1984 7 Series Foreword This series of books is designed to help general practitioners. So are other books. What is unusual in this instance is their collective authorship; they are written by specialists working at district general hospitals. The writers derive their own experience from a range of cases less highly selected than those on which textbooks are traditionally based. They are also in a good position to pick out topics which they see creating diffi culties for the practitioners of their district, whose personal capacities are familiar to them; and to concentrate on contexts where mistakes are most likely to occur. They are all well accustomed to working in consultation.

Telepractice in Audiology provides practical information to audiologists to enable the development and delivery of a successful telepractice program. Specifically, the text discusses the technological requirements (e.g., videoconferencing equipment, remote programming software options, Internet connections, etc.), applications and models of service delivery in audiology, policy and regulatory issues, as well as future directions in the field. The use of telepractice technology, specifically the Internet and remote programming software, has the potential to improve equity of access to services and reduce the burden placed on families. Program reports, outcomes, and publications that are emerging demonstrate the ability to offer sophisticated audiological assessments with reliable outcomes. This text provides the knowledge and skills required to implement a telepractice program that could provide a range of audiological services from diagnostics to intervention and habilitation/rehabilitation. Further, different models of service delivery are presented, thus demonstrating the flexibility of a telepractice approach.Telepractice in Audiologyis a useful resource for practicing clinicians as well as students training to be audiologists. In addition, teachers of the deaf, speech-language pathologists, IT support persons, and other individuals interested in the application of, or endeavoring to implement, teleaudiology programs will also benefit from this text.

This textbook is a product of William Bennett's work in developing and teaching a course on the physics of music at Yale University to a diverse audience of musicians and science students in the same class. The book is a culmination of over a decade of teaching the course and weaves together historical descriptions of the physical phenomena with the author's clear interpretations of the most important aspects of the science of music and musical instruments. Many of the historical examples are not found in any other textbook available on the market. As the co-inventor of the Helium-Neon laser, Prof. Bennett's knowledge of physics was world-class. As a professor at one of the most prestigious liberal-arts universities in the world, his appreciation for culture and humanities shines through. The book covers the basics of oscillations, waves and the analysis techniques necessary for understanding how musical instruments work. All types of stringed instruments, pipe organs, and the human voice are covered in this volume. A second volume covers the remaining families of musical instruments as well as selected other topics. Readers without a background in acoustics will enjoy learning the physics of the Science of Musical Sound from a preeminent scientist of the 20th century. Those well versed in acoustics will discover wonderful illustrations and photographs depicting familiar concepts in new and enlightening ways.

The auditory system is a complex neural system composed of many types of neurons connected into networks. One feature that sets the auditory system apart from other sensory systems, such as somatosensory or visual systems, is the many stages of neural processing that occur between the ear in the periphery and the cerebral cortex. Each stage is composed of specialized types of neurons connected in specific microcircuits that perform computations on the information about sound. To understand this processing, all the tools of neuroscience must be employed. The proposed text integrates cell biology, synaptic physiology, and electrophysiology to fully develop the topic, presenting an overview of the functional anatomy of the central auditory system. It is organized based on the neuronal connectivity of the central auditory system, which emphasizes the neurons, their synaptic organization, and their formation of functional pathways and microcircuits. The goal of the book is to stimulate research into the cell biology of the central auditory system and the characteristics of the specific neurons and connections that are necessary for normal hearing. Future research on the development of the central auditory including that employing stem cells will require such information in order to engineer appropriate therapeutic approaches.

By far, the most widely used subjects in psychological and biological research today are rodents. Although rats and mice comprise the largest group of animals used in research, there are over 2,000 species and 27 families of rodents, living all over the world (except Antarctica) and thriving in many different habitat types. The vast environmental diversity that rodents face has led to numerous adaptations for communication, including vocalizing and hearing in both the sonic and ultrasonic ranges, effectively communicating in the open air and underground, and using vocalizations for coordinating sexual behavior, for mother-pup interactions, and for signaling an alarming situation to the group. Some rodent species have even developed foot drumming behaviors for communication. Comparative studies from around the globe, using both field and laboratory methodologies, reveal the vast differences in acoustic communication behavior across many rodent species. Some rodents are amenable to training and have been domesticated and bred purely for research purposes. Since the early 1900s, rats and mice have been indispensable to research programs around the world. Thus, much of what we know about hearing and vocalizations in rodents come from these two species tested in the laboratory. The sequencing of the mouse genome in 2002, followed by the rat genome in 2004, only increased the utility of these animals as research subjects since genetically engineered strains mimicking human diseases and disorders could be developed more easily. In the laboratory, rats and mice are used as models for human communication and hearing disorders and are involved in studies on hearing loss and prevention, hormones, and auditory plasticity, to name a few. We know that certain strains of mice retain hearing better than others throughout their lifespan, and about the genes involved in those differences. We know about the effects of noise, hormones, sex, aging, and circadian rhythms on hearing in mice and other rodents. We also know about normal hearing in many families of rodents, including the perception of simple and complex stimuli and the anatomy and physiology of hearing and sound localization. The importance of acoustic communication to these animals, as well as the significance of these mammals to biomedical research, are summarized in the chapters.