1. ANATOMY OF THE AUDITARY SYSTEM - Anatomy of the External Ear - Anatomy of the Middle Ear - Anatomy of the Inner Ear - Development of the Ear - Blood Supply of the Ear - Innervation of the Ear 2. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE AUDITORY SYSTEM - Sound - Divisions of the Ear - Sound Localization - Central Projections 3. FORMS AND MECHANISMS OF DEAFNESS - Unilateral versus Bilateral Deafness -Partial versus Total Deafness - Syndromic versus Non-syndromic Deafness - Peripheral versus Central Deafness - Forms of Peripheral Deafness - Other Forms of Hearing Disturbance - Treatment of Deafness 4. HEREDITARY DEAFNESS - Dogs - Cats 5. LATER ONSET DEAFNESS - Ototoxicity - Presbycusis - Noise Trauma - Anesthesia-associated Deafness - Conduction Deafness 6. BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED RESPONSE (BAER) - Biophysics of BAER Recordings - Overview of the BAER - Extrinsic Factors Affecting the BAER - Intrinsic Factors Affecting the BAER - Clinical Applications of the BAER 7. OTHER TESTS OF AUDITORY FUNCTION - Endocochlear Potential - Cochlear Microphonic and Summating Potential - Electrocochleogram - Acoustic Impedance, Tympanometry and the Acoustic Reflex - Middle- and Long-latency-evoked Responses - Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions - Saccule- and Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potentials 8. LIVING WITH A DEAF DOG OR CAT - Behavior of Deaf Animals - Hand Signal Training - Counseling For Owners/Breeders of Deaf Animals