Ala. Admin. Code r. 870-X-7-.03

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

Section 870-X-7-.03 - Audiology Scope Of Practice

The overriding principle is that audiologists will provide only those services for which they are adequately prepared through their academic and clinical training, their experience, and their continuing education. The practice of audiology includes:

(a) Screening, identifying, assessing, interpreting, diagnosing, preventing, and (re)habilitating peripheral and central auditory system dysfunctions;

(b) Conducting otoscopic examinations and removing cerumen from external ear canal;

(c) Providing and interpreting behavioral and (electro)physiological measurements of auditory, vestibular, and neural functions.

(d) Evaluating and managing children and adults with central auditory processing disorders;

(e) Conducting newborn hearing screening programs;

(f) Assessing and providing nonmedical management of tinnitus;

(g) Facilitating the conservation of auditory system function; developing and implementing environmental and occupational hearing conservation programs;

(h) Selecting, fitting, and dispensing of hearing aids, assistive listening and alerting devices and other systems (e.g. implantable devices) and providing training in their use;

(i) Providing Audiological (re)habilitation and related counseling services to hearing impaired individuals, their families, and other professionals;

(j) Providing related counseling services to individuals with any type of hearing related communication disorder and their family members;

(k) Consulting with educators about communication management of children with hearing impairment;

(l) Consulting and providing rehabilitative services to persons with balance disorders;

(m) Developing and managing academic and clinical programs in communication sciences and disorders;

(n) Designing, implementing, analyzing, and interpreting the results of research related to auditory and vestibular systems;

(o) Screening of speech-language and other factors affecting communication function for the purposes of an audiological evaluation and/or initial identification of individuals with other communication disorders.

(p) Measuring outcomes of treatment and conducting continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of practices and programs to improve and maintain quality of services.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 870-X-7-.03

New Rule: Filed October 18, 1994; effective November 21, 1994. Amended: Filed August 29, 1997; effective October 3, 1997. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 24, 1999; effective October 29, 1999.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 11, August 31, 2015, eff. 9/21/2015.

Authors: Robin Auerbach, Denise P. Gibbs, Martha W. Paxton, Lissa Van Doorn, Robert L. Rane, Richard Talbott

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-28A-42, etseq.