Hearing Health Glossary
Plain-English definitions of common terms you might come across when looking into hearing tests, hearing aids or ear health — grouped by topic, with links to fuller guides where we have them.
People & roles
- Audiologist
- A qualified professional who assesses hearing, carries out hearing tests, and fits hearing aids. See Home Hearing Tests.
- ENT specialist
- An Ear, Nose & Throat doctor who diagnoses and treats medical conditions affecting hearing and balance, such as Meniere's disease. Usually reached via a GP referral, not directly.
- GP
- Your general practitioner — usually the first point of contact for symptoms that might need urgent attention, or a referral to a specialist.
Hearing changes & conditions
- Hearing loss
- A general term for reduced ability to hear, which can range from mild to profound and develop suddenly or gradually. See Signs of Hearing Loss.
- Presbycusis
- The medical term for age-related hearing loss — a gradual change that's very common as people get older, usually affecting both ears.
- Tinnitus
- The perception of sound — often ringing, buzzing or hissing — that isn't coming from an outside source. See our Tinnitus guide.
- Vertigo
- A spinning sensation (rather than simply feeling dizzy or unsteady), often linked to inner ear conditions.
- Meniere's disease
- A rare inner ear condition that can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. See our full guide to Meniere's disease.
- Ear wax (cerumen) build-up
- A natural substance that usually clears on its own, but can build up and cause muffled hearing or discomfort for some people. See Ear Wax Removal.
Tests & procedures
- Hearing test (audiogram)
- An assessment that measures how well you hear different pitches and volumes, usually carried out by an audiologist. See Home Hearing Tests.
- Microsuction
- A modern method of removing ear wax using gentle suction under direct vision, without water. See Ear Wax Removal.
- Ear syringing
- An older method of removing ear wax using water under pressure. Microsuction is now widely recommended as a more comfortable alternative for many people.
Hearing aid technology
- BTE (behind-the-ear)
- A hearing aid style that sits behind the ear, connected by a tube or wire. See Types of Hearing Aids.
- ITE (in-the-ear)
- A hearing aid style that sits partly or fully within the ear itself, making it smaller and less visible than BTE styles.
- RIC / RITE (receiver-in-canal)
- A hearing aid style similar to BTE, but with the speaker sitting inside the ear canal rather than behind the ear.
- Rechargeable hearing aid
- A hearing aid charged overnight like a phone, rather than using small replaceable batteries.
Costs & schemes
- PRSI Treatment Benefit
- A government scheme that may provide a contribution toward the cost of a hearing aid for people who meet the PRSI conditions. See our Hearing Aid Grant guide.
- Garda / Prison Officer Medical Aid
- Separate membership health schemes (St. Paul's Garda Medical Aid Society and POMAS) that may help toward hearing aid costs for serving or retired Gardai and Prison Officers. See Garda & Prison Officer Medical Aid.
Request a callback
Leave your details and we'll call you back, usually the same day, to arrange an appointment at home or in a clinic.
Last reviewed: 14 September 2026