Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) conducted research on the perception of tone and sounds. 

George von Bekesy theorized that the placement of each sensory cell along the coil of the cochlea corresponds to a specific frequency of sound. Békésy later developed a mechanical model of the cochlea, which confirmed the concept of frequency dispersion by the basilar membrane in the mammalian cochlea.

Raymond Carhart (1912-1975) known as the grandfather of audiology.  Dr. Carhart is best known for his work in speech audiometry particularly in terms of evaluating performance and benefit of hearing aids.  His work tremendously helped veterans returning from World War II.  He laid the foundation for many of today's evaluation techniques.

James Jerger obtained his Ph.D. degree in Audiology from Northwestern University in 1954.  Jerger is a Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Texas/Dallas where he conducts research on auditory processing.   Jerger's research and clinical interests have focused on the development and evaluation of tools for audiological diagnosis.  His work includes studies of intensity discrimination, auditory adaptation and fatigue, speech audiometry, immittance audiometry, dichotic listening, and auditory evoked potentials.  He is the author or co-author of 310 publications.