audiology

Audiology is a health science that studies hearing and balance disorders in humans. It encompasses assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of hearing loss and balance dysfunction across the lifespan, from infancy to old age.

Audiologists are healthcare professionals with advanced training, typically earning a clinical doctorate such as a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) or equivalent. They diagnose hearing and balance disorders, fit and verify hearing devices, provide rehabilitation and counseling, and collaborate with physicians, educators, and other professionals. Licensure or certification is required in many jurisdictions.

Common assessments include pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response testing. Vestibular assessment may include tests such as videonystagmography or caloric testing. Newborns and children often undergo early screening programs, with follow-up evaluations as needed.

Interventions include hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone-anchored or middle-ear implants, and other assistive listening devices. Aural rehabilitation addresses communication strategies, counseling, and education. Audiologists also provide tinnitus management, vestibular rehabilitation, and hearing conservation programs for noise exposure in occupational settings.

Settings include hospitals, clinics, schools, private practice, and rehabilitation centers, with a focus on pediatric and geriatric populations. The field supports ongoing research in areas such as auditory neuroscience, diagnostic instrumentation, and evidence-based practice to improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals with hearing and balance disorders.