Ala. Admin. Code r. 870-X-1-.01

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 870-X-1-.01 - Definition Of Terms

(1)"Audiologist," any person that engages in the practice of audiology and who meets the qualifications set forth in Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-28A-21. A person represents oneself to be an audiologist if that person holds out to the public that he/she practices audiology, by any means, or by any service or function performed, directly or indirectly, or by using the terms audiological, audiologist, audiology, audiometrics, audiometrist, aural rehabilitationist, balance center, hearing aid audiologist, hearing and balance center, hearing and balance specialist, vestibular specialist, hearing center, hearing clinic, hearing clinician, hearing conservation, hearing conservationist, hearing therapist, hearing therapy, or any variation or synonym which expresses, employs, or implies these terms or functions.

"Audiology"

(a) The application of principles, methods, and procedures related to the development and disorders of the human auditory-vestibular system, which disorders shall include any and all conditions whether of organic or functional origin, including, but not limited to, disorders of hearing, balance, tinnitus, auditory processing and other neural functions, as those principles, methods and procedures are taught in doctoral programs in audiology in accredited programs.

(b) Such principles, methods or procedures include, without limitation, those of diagnosis, assessment, measurement, testing, appraisal, evaluation, rehabilitation, treatment, prevention, conservation, identification, consultation, counseling, intervention, management, interpretation, instruction or research related to hearing, vestibular function, balance and fall prevention, and associated neural systems, or any abnormal condition related to tinnitus, auditory sensitivity, acuity, function or processing, speech, language or other aberrant behavior resulting from hearing loss, for the purpose of diagnosing, designing, and implementing audiological management and treatment or other programs for the amelioration of such disorders and conditions. Management and treatment shall include but not be limited to the activities described in subsection (c) below.

(c) Engaging in the practice of prescribing, selecting, specifying, evaluating, assisting in the adjustment to, and dispensing of prosthetic devices for hearing loss, including hearing aids, and hearing assistive devices by means of specialized audiometric equipment or by any other means accepted by the Board.

(3)"Audiology Assistant," or any variation, synonym or coinage of the term, is defined as an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the Board, which are less than those established by Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-28A-21 as necessary for licensing as an audiologist; does not act independently; and works under the direction and supervision of an audiologist licensed under Section 34-28A-21.

(4)"Board," the Alabama State Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA).

(5) "Clinical Fellowship (CF)," required practical experience following successful completion of a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at an accredited university or equivalent as determined by the Board.

(6)"Doctor of Audiology," an individual who holds a doctorate of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited program, or the equivalent as determined by the Board.

(7) "Fourth-Year Internship," required practical experience following successful completion of educational requirements for the doctorate of audiology degree (Au.D.) at an accredited university or equivalent as determined by the Board.

(8)"Good Moral Character," A person shall be deemed to be of good moral character provided that said individual has not pleaded guilty to or been convicted of any felony, any violation of corruption of a minor, any offense of violence, theft offense, or drug abuse offense that is not a minor misdemeanor, or any substantively comparable ordinance of a municipal corporation or of another state.

(9)"Gross Negligence," A Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist commits gross negligence, when his/her actions reveal a disregard for the services needed for proper treatment of the patient. This shall include, but is not limited to, the failure to properly diagnose the patient's condition and failure to properly administer and interpret administered tests based upon current and established procedures of the profession. Evidence of gross negligence can be direct or circumstantial.

(10)"License," any license issued by the Board to practice audiology or speech-language pathology.

(11)"Licensee," a person holding a license to practice audiology or speech language pathology issued pursuant to this chapter, but not including the participants of (CF) or Fourth-Year Internship.

(12)"Patient Site," refers to the patient's physical location at the time of receipt of the telepractice services.

(13)"Person," any individual, group, association, limited or general partnership, corporation, or any other business entity.

(14)"Preceptor/Supervisor/Other Synonymous Title," any person who is licensed and has the responsibility of supervising or overseeing the training or activities of assistants, students, externs, participants of CF or Fourth-Year Internship and others providing audiological or speech language pathology services without full licenses.

(15)"Provider," a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist who provides telepractice services.

(16)"Provider Site," means the licensee's physical location at the time of the provision of telepractice services.

(17)"Speech-Language Pathologist," any person who engages in the practice of speech-language pathology and who meets the qualifications set forth in Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-28A-21. A person represents oneself to be a speech-language pathologist when he/she holds oneself out to the public by any means, or by any service or function performed, directly or indirectly, or by using the terms "speech pathology," "speech pathologist," "speech therapy," "speech therapist," "speech teacher," "speech correction," "speech correctionist," "speech clinic," "speech clinician," "language therapy," "language therapist," "language pathology," "language pathologist," "logopedics," "logopedist," "communicology," "communicologist," "aphasiology," "aphasiologist," "phoniatrist," or any variation, synonym, coinage or other word that expresses, employs or implies these terms, names or functions.

(18)"Speech-Language Pathology," the application of principles, methods and procedures related to the development, disorders and effectiveness of human communication and related functions including but not limited to providing prevention, screening, consultation, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, intervention, management, counseling and follow-up services for disorders of speech (i.e. articulation, fluency, resonance and voice), language (i.e., phonology, morphology, syntax, pre-literacy and language-based literacy skills), swallowing or other upper aerodigestive functions; and cognitive aspects of communication (i.e. attention, memory, problem solving). The practice of speech-language pathology also includes establishing augmentative and alternative communication techniques and strategies; including developing, selecting and prescribing of such systems and devices (e.g., speech generating devices); providing services to individuals with hearing loss and their families (e.g., auditory training, speech-reading, speech and language intervention secondary to hearing loss); screening hearing of individuals who can participate in conventional pure-tone air conduction methods and screening middle ear pathology through screening tympanometry for the purpose of referral for further evaluation; using instrumentation (e.g., videofluroscopy) to observe, collect data and measure parameters of communic`1ation and swallowing; selecting, fitting and establishing effective use of prosthetic/adaptive devices for communication, swallowing or other upper aerodigestive functions (does not include sensory devices used by individuals with hearing loss); and providing services to modify or enhance communication performance.

(19)"Speech-Language Pathology Assistant," or any variation, synonym or coinage of the term is defined as an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the Board, which are less than those established by Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-28A-21 as necessary for licensing as a speech-language pathologist; does not act independently; and works under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed under Section 34-28A-21.

(20)"Telepractice," is the use of telecommunications and information technologies for the exchange of encrypted patient data, obtained through real-time interaction, from patient site to provider site for the provision or speech and language pathology and audiology services to patients through hardwire or internet connection. Telepractice also includes the interpretation of patient information provided to the licensee via store and forward techniques.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 870-X-1-.01

New Rule: Filed September 14, 2006; effective October 19, 2006. Amended: Filed June 21, 2010; effective July 26, 2010. Amended: Filed July 19, 2013; effective August 23, 2013.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXII, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2014, eff. 10/29/2014.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2021, eff. 5/15/2021.

Authors: Ada Holyfield, Dr. Barbara Cady, Amanda Blaszczynski, Florence Cuneo, Mark Carroll

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-28A-1, et seq.