[Experimental and clinical audiology: current status and trends of development]

The article presents results of experimental and clinical trials obtained in the National Research Center for Audiology and Hearing Rehabilitation and other leading research centers which studied mechanisms of primary auditory perception including cellular and membrane levels; nature of hair cell motor and electromotility, otoacoustic emission generation, effects of efferent system; nature and mechanisms underlying hereditary hypoacusis and deafness; regeneration of hair cells. Rehabilitation of deaf patients by means of cochlear implantation and optimization of universal audiological screening programs are described.