[Characteristics and aims of modern centers of audio-phonetics]

The organisation and aims of a modern audiology and phoniatrics centre are described. In children the centre identifies hearing defects as early as possible, and provides for re-education, to facilitate acceptance in normal society. In adults the centre arranges schemes for the prevention or limitation of occupational deafness, and makes a precise assessment of the degree of severity and type of lesione encountered as a result of any other aetiopathogenic factors, suggesting the most appropriate forms of therapy (medical, surgical or prosthesis). Conventional audiometry methods are employed, together with the most recent types of objective audiometry (psychogalvanometry, electroencephaloaudiometry, electrocochleography).