Introduction
During the last few decades audiology has developed into a scientific and clinic area
which encompasses an extremely broad area of expertise. In addition to medicine and
physiology, engineering and physics are basic areas which play an important role as the
technical development has been very evident both with regard to equipment for diagnostic
procedures and to signal processing and outcome assessment in the field of hearing aids,
cochlear implants and other means of technical rehabilitation. Psychology is another area of
increasing importance, both with regard to the interplay between auditory function and
cognitive abilities and in terms of providing a basic understanding of the handicap
experienced by hearing loss and how this can be ameliorated. The importance of helping the
hearing-impaired person not only by a correct diagnosis and a professional provision of
technical devices but also with regard to his broader needs as a social being has become
very evident. These and many other factors illustrate the need for very broad professional
skills in audiology today in order to offer the hearing-impaired person the best possible
services, allowing him to remain as a functioning member of the modern socity.

An analysis of hearing health care services currently provided in Europe shows that
they are far from sufficient in many respects in most European countries. As the
improvement of services for the hearing impaired population in Europe is one of the major
goals of the European Federation of Audiology Societies, EFAS, its General Assembly EFAS
took the initiative for a working group on “European Audiology Training” in Prague 1997. The
working group started its work collecting data (specifications, responsibilities, curricula, etc.)
about the different professions presently engaged in audiology in Europe. The survey
revealed that the infrastructure of formal education in Audiology in Europe needs further
development. This task called for a broader consensus which could not be achieved on a
working group basis.

Therefore, EFAS organised a workshop on “European Audiology Training (EAT)”, inviting
participants representing the different professional groupings presently being active in
Audiology in the European countries. This decision was taken at the EFAS General
Assembly Oulu, Finland, in June 1999. The workshop was held at the University of Giessen,
Germany, October 11-13, 1999. Thirty-three delegates from fifteen European countries
participated in the workshop. The discussions on the possible options for an improvement of
audiology in Europe lead the delegates to a consensus regarding a long-term goal of the