One of the most notable features of auditory prosthetics at the present stage of development is the close interdisciplinary interaction of related medical, scientific, and social specialties. The solution of practical problems in audiology has long gone beyond the range of selecting a method of acoustic or electrical amplification. The priorities in decision making have increasingly shifted from purely engineering efficiency toward improving the quality of life in general. A personalized approach to choosing optimal solutions for each specific case inevitably led specialists to study the cognitive potential and neurophysiological characteristics of the patient. That is why various methods of functional neuroimaging are increasingly being introduced into the scientific and practical activities of an audiologist. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is considered one of the youngest and most promising technologies. It allows us to research the metabolic activity of the cerebral cortex, which is an important source of feedback when working with sensory functions of the body. The potential of its use can vary from evaluating the effectiveness of measures already taken to solving complex controversial issues of selecting patients for high-tech treatment methods, which do not always remain regulated in methodological documents: the choice of prosthetics, the expediency of performing cochlear implantation in patients with ambiguous indications and contraindications, assessment of rehabilitation potential in neurological comorbidity, etc. In this article, we have tried to systematize and reflect the relevant aspects of the use of fNIRS for audiology patients with a description of the essence of the method, its comparison with alternative methods of functional imaging such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, positron emission tomography.