Appendix B: Audiology Assistant Scope of Practice
Audiology Assistant Scope of Practice
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Area Description
A Participate in patient/client/student care
1 Self-identify as audiology assistants to patients/clients/students/families, staff, and others.
2 Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and local policies.
3 Use standard precautions for infection control and safety standards.
4 Prepare patient/client/student, materials, equipment, and room based on appointment type.
5 Assist patients/clients/students and caregivers in completing case history or other relevant forms (e.g., questionnaires, outcome measures).
6 Assist with providing services (e.g., testing and tele-practice).
7 Assist with fitting of hearing devices and accessories.
8 Assist with intervention programs (e.g., auditory rehabilitation, tinnitus management, hearing loss prevention).
9 Perform nondiagnostic otoscopy.
10 Conduct audiologic testing without clinical interpretation (e.g., hearing screening, pure-tone air conduction thresholds, newborn hearing screening, immittance screening, otoacoustic emission screening).
11 Document and report all patient/client/student encounters—including interaction, services, and outcomes.
12 Assist with educating patients/clients/students, families, and caregivers (e.g., communication strategies, hearing loss prevention).
13 Assist with educating patients/clients/students, families, and caregivers about use and care of hearing devices, assistive listening devices, and alerting devices.
14 Advocate for patient/client/student needs.
B Perform hearing device maintenance
1 Preset hearing aids, using initial fitting of the manufacturer software prior to a fitting appointment.
2 Restore or verify previous patient/client/student settings of hearing devices.
3 Perform electroacoustic analysis of hearing devices.
4 Perform listening checks and visual inspection of hearing devices and accessories.
5 Perform troubleshooting and minor repairs of hearing devices, earmolds, and accessories.
6 Perform minor modifications to earmolds, custom hearing devices, and custom products.
7 Clean hearing devices, earmolds, and accessories.
8 Send hearing devices and accessories for repair.
C Maintain the audiology clinic or service setting
1 Assist with clerical duties (e.g., stocking of materials, recordkeeping, scheduling activities).
2 Verify the function and safety of the equipment routinely.
3 Perform infection control.
4 Maintain inventory of supplies.
5 Communicate with hearing device manufacturers/suppliers.
6 Order hearing devices, earmolds, and accessories.
D Engage in professional activities and advocacy
1 Participate in professional organizations.
2 Advocate for relevant public policies and resources at the local, state, and national levels.
3 Assist with activities such as research projects, in-service training, public relations programs, and marketing programs.
4 Participate in community awareness, health literacy, education, and training programs.