Audiological Evaluation
A comprehensive battery of diagnostic tests administered by an audiologist to characterise the type, degree, and configuration of a patient's hearing status.
Full Definition
An audiological evaluation is a structured clinical assessment that goes beyond a single hearing test to encompass pure-tone thresholds, speech perception measures, immittance testing, and where indicated, electrophysiological procedures. In editorial contexts, the term should not be shortened to 'hearing test,' which implies a single screening measure. The evaluation yields a diagnostic profile used to guide rehabilitation or medical referral. Reports of audiological evaluations follow a standardised structure that editors must preserve carefully. The phrase is always rendered as two words—not 'audiologic evaluation' (though that variant exists in American clinical usage and may be house-style in some publications).
Usage
Usage note: Do not substitute 'hearing test' for 'audiological evaluation' in clinical reports; the terms differ in scope. 'Audiologic' (without the '-al') is preferred in some US journals—follow house style consistently.
In Context
- "The referral letter requested a full audiological evaluation prior to fitting amplification." — Clinical referral document
- "Editors should confirm whether the report describes a screening or a complete audiological evaluation before assigning the correct template." — Editorial style guide