Audiology is a very comprehensive subject and may, according to diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, be divided into neurological, medical, surgical and electro-acoustic aspects. Seen in relation to the age of the individuals concerned, we may speak of child, school, military and gerontological audiology, all of which are subjects of sufficient scope to fill a panel discussion separately. One thing which all these subdivisions have in common is the attendant sociomedical problems, which must be taken into consideration by the patient and the doctor alike, both in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, indications for treatment and the audiological treatment as such.