345.015. Definitions.
Definitions.
345.015. As used in sections 345.010 to 345.080, the following termsmean:
(1) "Audiologist", a person who is licensed as an audiologistpursuant to sections 345.010 to 345.080 to practice audiology;
(2) "Audiology aide", a person who is registered as an audiology aideby the board, who does not act independently but works under the directionand supervision of a licensed audiologist. Such person assists theaudiologist with activities which require an understanding of audiology butdo not require formal training in the relevant academics. To be eligiblefor registration by the board, each applicant shall submit a registrationfee, be of good moral and ethical character; and:
(a) Be at least eighteen years of age;
(b) Furnish evidence of the person's educational qualifications whichshall be at a minimum:
a. Certification of graduation from an accredited high school or itsequivalent; and
b. On-the-job training;
(c) Be employed in a setting in which direct and indirect supervisionare provided on a regular and systematic basis by a licensed audiologist.
However, the aide shall not administer or interpret hearing screening ordiagnostic tests, fit or dispense hearing instruments, make earimpressions, make diagnostic statements, determine case selection, presentwritten reports to anyone other than the supervisor without the signatureof the supervisor, make referrals to other professionals or agencies, use atitle other than speech-language pathology aide or clinical audiology aide,develop or modify treatment plans, discharge clients from treatment orterminate treatment, disclose clinical information, either orally or inwriting, to anyone other than the supervising speech-languagepathologist/audiologist, or perform any procedure for which he or she isnot qualified, has not been adequately trained or both;
(3) "Board", the state board of registration for the healing arts;
(4) "Clinical fellowship", the supervised professional employmentperiod following completion of the academic and practicum requirements ofan accredited training program as defined in sections 345.010 to 345.080;
(5) "Commission", the advisory commission for speech-languagepathologists and audiologists;
(6) "Hearing instrument" or "hearing aid", any wearable device orinstrument designed for or offered for the purpose of aiding orcompensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments oraccessories, including ear molds, but excluding batteries, cords, receiversand repairs;
(7) "Person", any individual, organization, or corporate body, exceptthat only individuals may be licensed pursuant to sections 345.010 to345.080;
(8) "Practice of audiology":
(a) The application of accepted audiologic principles, methods andprocedures for the measurement, testing, interpretation, appraisal andprediction related to disorders of the auditory system, balance system orrelated structures and systems;
(b) Provides consultation, counseling to the patient, client,student, their family or interested parties;
(c) Provides academic, social and medical referrals when appropriate;
(d) Provides for establishing goals, implementing strategies, methodsand techniques, for habilitation, rehabilitation or aural rehabilitation,related to disorders of the auditory system, balance system or relatedstructures and systems;
(e) Provides for involvement in related research, teaching or publiceducation;
(f) Provides for rendering of services or participates in theplanning, directing or conducting of programs which are designed to modifyaudition, communicative, balance or cognitive disorder, which may involvespeech and language or education issues;
(g) Provides and interprets behavioral and neurophysiologicmeasurements of auditory balance, cognitive processing and relatedfunctions, including intraoperative monitoring;
(h) Provides involvement in any tasks, procedures, acts or practicesthat are necessary for evaluation of audition, hearing, training in the useof amplification or assistive listening devices;
(i) Provides selection, assessment, fitting, programming, anddispensing of hearing instruments, assistive listening devices, and otheramplification systems;
(j) Provides for taking impressions of the ear, making custom earmolds, ear plugs, swim molds and industrial noise protectors;
(k) Provides assessment of external ear and cerumen management;
(l) Provides advising, fitting, mapping assessment of implantabledevices such as cochlear or auditory brain stem devices;
(m) Provides information in noise control and hearing conservationincluding education, equipment selection, equipment calibration, siteevaluation and employee evaluation;
(n) Provides performing basic speech-language screening test;
(o) Provides involvement in social aspects of communication,including challenging behavior and ineffective social skills, lack ofcommunication opportunities;
(p) Provides support and training of family members and othercommunication partners for the individual with auditory balance, cognitiveand communication disorders;
(q) Provides aural rehabilitation and related services to individualswith hearing loss and their families;
(r) Evaluates, collaborates and manages audition problems in theassessment of the central auditory processing disorders and providingintervention for individuals with central auditory processing disorders;
(s) Develops and manages academic and clinical problems incommunication sciences and disorders;
(t) Conducts, disseminates and applies research in communicationsciences and disorders;
(9) "Practice of speech-language pathology":
(a) Provides screening, identification, assessment, diagnosis,treatment, intervention, including but not limited to prevention,restoration, amelioration and compensation, and follow-up services fordisorders of:
a. Speech: articulation, fluency, voice, including respiration,phonation and resonance;
b. Language, involving the parameters of phonology, morphology,syntax, semantics and pragmatic; and including disorders of receptive andexpressive communication in oral, written, graphic and manual modalities;
c. Oral, pharyngeal, cervical esophageal and related functions, suchas dysphagia, including disorders of swallowing and oral functions forfeeding; orofacial myofunctional disorders;
d. Cognitive aspects of communication, including communicationdisability and other functional disabilities associated with cognitiveimpairment;
e. Social aspects of communication, including challenging behavior,ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities;
(b) Provides consultation and counseling and makes referrals whenappropriate;
(c) Trains and supports family members and other communicationpartners of individuals with speech, voice, language, communication andswallowing disabilities;
(d) Develops and establishes effective augmentative and alternativecommunication techniques and strategies, including selecting, prescribingand dispensing of augmentative aids and devices; and the training ofindividuals, their families and other communication partners in their use;
(e) Selects, fits and establishes effective use of appropriateprosthetic/adaptive devices for speaking and swallowing, such astracheoesophageal valves, electrolarynges, or speaking valves;
(f) Uses instrumental technology to diagnose and treat disorders ofcommunication and swallowing, such as videofluoroscopy, nasendoscopy,ultrasonography and stroboscopy;
(g) Provides aural rehabilitative and related counseling services toindividuals with hearing loss and to their families;
(h) Collaborates in the assessment of central auditory processingdisorders in cases in which there is evidence of speech, language or othercognitive communication disorders; provides intervention for individualswith central auditory processing disorders;
(i) Conducts pure-tone air conduction hearing screening and screeningtympanometry for the purpose of the initial identification or referral;
(j) Enhances speech and language proficiency and communicationeffectiveness, including but not limited to accent reduction, collaborationwith teachers of English as a second language and improvement of voice,performance and singing;
(k) Trains and supervises support personnel;
(l) Develops and manages academic and clinical programs incommunication sciences and disorders;
(m) Conducts, disseminates and applies research in communicationsciences and disorders;
(n) Measures outcomes of treatment and conducts continuous evaluationof the effectiveness of practices and programs to improve and maintainquality of services;
(10) "Speech-language pathologist", a person who is licensed as aspeech-language pathologist pursuant to sections 345.010 to 345.080; whoengages in the practice of speech-language pathology as defined in sections345.010 to 345.080;
(11) "Speech-language pathology aide", a person who is registered asa speech-language aide by the board, who does not act independently butworks under the direction and supervision of a licensed speech-languagepathologist. Such person assists the speech-language pathologist withactivities which require an understanding of speech-language pathology butdo not require formal training in the relevant academics. To be eligiblefor registration by the board, each applicant shall submit a registrationfee, be of good moral and ethical character; and:
(a) Be at least eighteen years of age;
(b) Furnish evidence of the person's educational qualifications whichshall be at a minimum:
a. Certification of graduation from an accredited high school or itsequivalent; and
b. On-the-job training;
(c) Be employed in a setting in which direct and indirect supervisionis provided on a regular and systematic basis by a licensed speech-languagepathologist. However, the aide shall not administer or interpret hearingscreening or diagnostic tests, fit or dispense hearing instruments, makeear impressions, make diagnostic statements, determine case selection,present written reports to anyone other than the supervisor without thesignature of the supervisor, make referrals to other professionals oragencies, use a title other than speech-language pathology aide or clinicalaudiology aide, develop or modify treatment plans, discharge clients fromtreatment or terminate treatment, disclose clinical information, eitherorally or in writing, to anyone other than the supervising speech-languagepathologist/audiologist, or perform any procedure for which he or she isnot qualified, has not been adequately trained or both;
(12) "Speech-language pathology assistant", a person who isregistered as a speech-language pathology assistant by the board, who doesnot act independently but works under the direction and supervision of alicensed speech-language pathologist and whose activities require bothacademic and practical training in the field of speech-language pathologyalthough less training than those established by sections 345.010 to345.080 as necessary for licensing as a speech-language pathologist. To beeligible for registration by the board, each applicant shall submit theregistration fee, be of good moral character and furnish evidence of theperson's educational qualifications which meet the following:
(a) Hold a bachelor's level degree in the field of speech-languagepathology from an institution accredited or approved by a regionalaccrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education orits equivalent; and
(b) Submit official transcripts from one or more accredited collegesor universities presenting evidence of the completion of bachelor's levelcourse work and clinical practicum requirements equivalent to that requiredor approved by a regional accrediting body recognized by the United StatesDepartment of Education or its equivalent.
(L. 1973 H.B. 329 § 2, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1242, A.L. 1995 S.B. 69, et al., A.L. 1998 H.B. 1601, et al., A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122, A.L. 2005 S.B. 100, A.L. 2007 H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308)