Diagnostic Audiology

Diagnostic audiology is the branch of audiology focused on identifying and characterizing disorders of the auditory and vestibular systems. It involves administering and interpreting a range of tests to determine the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss, as well as the site of the problem within the auditory pathway.

Common procedures include pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, and vestibular function assessments. Diagnostic audiology differs from rehabilitative audiology, which manages or treats hearing and balance conditions once a diagnosis is established.

In Canada, diagnostic audiology is a regulated activity performed by registered audiologists. Results from a diagnostic assessment inform decisions about medical referrals, hearing aid candidacy, cochlear implant candidacy, and other interventions.