auditory

This term is primarily used in medical, scientific, or psychological contexts to describe the physiological process of sound perception. It carries a clinical tone, focusing on the hardware of the ear and the neural pathways of the brain rather than the subjective experience of listening.

While a word like acoustic refers to the physical properties of sound waves and how they interact with a space, auditory focuses on the internal biological reception of those sounds. It is the standard choice when discussing sensory processing or neurological deficits.