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audiology

American  
[aw-dee-ol-uh-jee] / ˌɔ diˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

  1. the study of hearing disorders, including evaluation of hearing function and rehabilitation of patients with hearing impairments.


audiology British  
/ ˌɔːdɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌɔːdɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

  1. the scientific study of hearing, often including the treatment of persons with hearing defects

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

audiology Scientific  
/ ô′dē-ŏlə-jē /
  1. The scientific study of hearing, especially the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders.


Other Word Forms

  • audiologic adjective
  • audiological adjective
  • audiologically adverb
  • audiologist noun

Etymology

Origin of audiology

First recorded in 1945–50; audio- + -logy

Explanation

Audiology is the science, study, treatment, or measurement of hearing and hearing loss. Doctors who specialize in audiology are called audiologists. An audiology clinic or department offers various kinds of testing to determine whether a person can hear normally, and if not, which frequencies of the person's hearing have been affected. Balance disorders and tinnitus — a persistent ringing in the ears — also fall under the expertise of audiology practitioners. If you needed a hearing aid, you might go to an audiology clinic. Audiology combines audio-, or "sound," from the Latin root audire, "hear," and -ology, "branch of knowledge."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing audiology

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Each participant first completed an audiology screening to confirm normal hearing, then took part in a computer-based listening task.

From Science Daily • Oct. 29, 2025

Now, he and his wife, also an audiology graduate student, each hold down multiple part-time jobs to pay their tuition, rent and other costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Dr Amjad Mahmood, the head of audiology at Great Ormond Street Hospital supported the call for more research.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025

During that appointment, I was just like most novice visitors to an audiology office—I had been worried about my hearing for years before finally going to get tested.

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2024

But then in my annual checkup in October I flunked the audiology test and the doctor was like, “Dude, it’s time.”

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio