Editorial. Definition of audiology.

Abstract

It is noted that the generic term audiology as the science of hearing, and the concept of the multidisciplinary audiology center, is some years older than the emergent independent profession of clinical audiology. The broader term is still useful as a device to lend much needed cohesion to a variety of approaches to the study of hearing, as a term to elicit public support for hearing research in general, and as a device to attract young persons to aspects, not necessarily clinical, of the biology of the auditory process. A trend is deplored to dissuade or even force all persons involved in serious study of hearing to refrain from designating themselves as audiologists; it is hoped that the words audiology and audiologist will continue to be very broadly defined, and it is thought that to restrict them would do ASHA-certified audiologists in the long run more harm than good. It is suggested that these virtues of the generic word audiology could be amicably retained, while offering a fully professional identity to practitioners of audiology in the clinic, by rewording the current "CCC-A" to read "Certificate of Competence in Clinical Audiology" and its holders be known, as in fact they commonly are, as "Clinical Audiologists;" this by analogy with the current widespread practice in psychology.