Untangling the Mess: Harvey Dillon on Auditory Processing and the Future of Audiology

In this episode of The Psychoaudiology Podcast, I speak with one of the true pioneers of modern audiology — Professor Harvey Dillon.Originally an engineer who “stumbled” into the world of hearing science, Professor Dillon went on to spend over 40 years at the National Acoustic Laboratory, shaping how we understand and fit hearing aids. But in the later part of his career, he has turned his attention to one of the most complex and controversial corners of the field: auditory processing.He unpacks why auditory processing disorders remain so difficult to define and diagnose, and he draws crucial distinctions between the tests that assess different auditory functions. We also explore why assessment is only the first step — and how management and treatment present the next great frontier in this area of research.It’s a rare conversation with one of the field’s great thinkers — someone who has helped shape the very foundation of how we improve hearing.🎧 Listen in to understand why, for Harvey Dillon, the “messiest” parts of audiology are also the most fascinating.