Nevada State Board of Hearing Aid Specialists. The Board. One member who is a physician specializing in otolaryngology or otology

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1 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists The Bard The Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists was created t enfrce the prvisins f Chapter 637A f the Nevada Revised Statues regarding Hearing Aid Specialists. The Bard is respnsible fr adpting rules and regulatins fr the administratin f the statute, determining educatinal requirements fr license applicants and licensees, administering and cnducting licensing examinatins, granting r denying licenses, and taking disciplinary actin against licensees. The bard is cmpsed f: One member wh is a hearing aid specialist One member wh is a physician specializing in tlarynglgy r tlgy One member wh is licensed t engage in the practice f audilgy Tw members wh are representatives f the general public and have hearing disrders Licenses Administered by the Bard: The Bard administers tw license classificatins: A Hearing Aid Specialist License and an Apprentice License. Bard Activities: The bard met six times in In 2013 there were 18 licenses prcessed, 2012 there were 11 licenses prcessed, and in 2011 there were 14 licenses prcessed. The number f cmplaints have drpped cnsistently since 2001.

2 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists Wh are Hearing Aid Specialists? An imprtant part f the hearing healthcare team Hearing Aid Specialists are prfessinals wh have received intensive training in hearing lss and hearing instruments. They are thrughly tested in bth knwledge and practical skills prir t licensing, and they receive nging cntinuing educatin. In shrt, they are an imprtant part f the hearing healthcare team. The FDA regulatins gverning hearing aids have been in place since 1977 (21 CFR and ). The FDA s preamble t the regulatins read (42 Fed. Reg. 9287): The Cmmissiner regards the hearing aid dispenser as an imprtant member f the hearing health care team, strategically psitined within the delivery system t prvide the hearing aid user with essential services. The FDA Cmmissiner rejects the cntentin that hearing aid dispensers shuld nt be included in a characterizatin f the hearing health care team. What services d Hearing Aid Specialists prvide? Hearing Aid Specialists prvide a full-spectrum f services t patients related t hearing lss and crrective hearing instruments. This includes: Taking patient histries Otscpic Examinatin f bth ears Taking an audigram t identify the type and degree f hearing lss Discussing with the client the benefits f a hearing aid Discussing with client the f mdels and csts f hearing aids Getting a medical clearance/referral r waiver Selecting and fitting a hearing instrument Preparing a sales agreement dcument Prviding pst fitting evaluatin fr any necessary adjustments Wh is qualified t be a Hearing Aid Specialist?

3 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists Educatin: Nevada s educatinal requirements are amng the mst stringent in the cuntry. In rder t be able t becme a Hearing Aid Specialist in the state a candidate must be ver the age f 21 and must have: 1. An assciate s degree r higher degree frm an accredited cllege r university in hearing aid technlgy, audiprsthlgy, r ther curriculum apprved by the Bard which includes the testing f hearing and the dispensing and mdificatin f hearing aids; 2. A bachelr s degree r higher degree in any field and satisfactry cmpletin f the independent study curse f the Internatinal Institute fr Hearing Instrument Studies; 3. A master s degree in clinical audilgy frm an accredited cllege university; r 4. A dctral degree in audilgy. Testing: In rder t qualify fr a Hearing Aid Specialist license the candidate must pass bth a written and practical examinatin. The Written Test: Chapter 637A f the Nevada Administrative Cde specifies that the written prtin f the examinatin must be prepared and apprved by an independent prfessinal wh specifies in such testing. The state f Nevada uses the Internatinal Licensing Exam fr Hearing Healthcare Prfessinals develped by the Internatinal Hearing Sciety. The test was designed based n input frm a frmal jb analysis study and survey f prfessinals in the field in late 2010 in rder t determine the knwledge, skills, and abilities currently required fr safe and effective entry-level practice as a Hearing Aid Specialist. The Practical Examinatin:

4 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists The purpse f the practical examinatin is t asses whether the candidate can transfer the knwledge demnstrated by the written exam int real wrld situatins. The examinatin cvers: Medical Oral Tests candidates demnstratin f knwledge f cnditins necessary fr medical interventin r a referral Interpret different types f hearing lss Audimetric Oral Tests candidates ability t interpret audigrams, hearing science acustics and definitins f terms used in hearing aid dispensing. Ear Mld Impressins Tests candidates ability t take an ear impressin that wuld result in a well fitting custm hearing aid r behind the ear instrument. Instrumentatin Tests candidates ability t identify prblems with actual hearing aids. Applicants are required t diagnse the malfunctin in different instruments. Audigram Candidates are required t test basic hearing and interpret an audigram. Cntinuing Educatin Once licensed, Hearing Aid Specialists are required t cmplete cntinuing educatin annually t renew their licenses. This ensures that Hearing Aid Specialists remain up-t-date n develpments within the field and cntinue t prvide the highest quality care t patients. A licensee must cmplete 12 hurs f cntinuing educatin relating t the fitting f hearing aids each year in a prgram which has been apprved by the Bard, the Internatinal Institute fr Hearing Instruments Studies, American Academy f Audilgy, American Speech-Language- Hearing Assciatin, Academy f Dctrs f Audilgy, r Educatinal Audilgy Assciatin. Wh are Apprentices? Apprentices are a separate licensing class that allws individuals t receive hands-n, n-the-jb training under a licensed hearing aid specialist. An apprentice must have a spnsr wh prvides direct

5 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists supervisin fr the apprentice. The spnsr must be a licensed hearing aid specialist in gd standing wh has held their license fr at least ne year. A licensed hearing aid specialist in gd standing wh has been licensed fr at least three years may emply an apprentice t assist in the business f a hearing aid specialist. What training des an apprentice receive? 1. An apprentice shall cmplete, under the direct and physical supervisin f his r her spnsr, at least 300 hurs f training, nt less than 160 hurs f which must be as fllws: a. Twenty-five hurs f pure tne air cnductin, masking, bne cnductin, and speech audimetry with recrded r live vice; b. Twenty-five hurs f evaluatin f hearing aids, including sund field measurements and real ear measurements with recrded and live vice; c. Twenty hurs f fitting and cunseling clients with hearing aids, including the verificatin f fitting; d. Ten hurs f earmld rientatin, including types f earmlds, terminlgy and uses fr earmlds; e. Fifteen hurs f earmld impressins and tscpic examinatins f the ear; f. Fifteen hurs f trubleshting f defective hearing aids; g. Twenty hurs f taking the case histry f actual clients; h. Ten hurs f the laws gverning the licensure f persns fr fitting and dispensing hearing aids, including the regulatins f the Fd and Drug Administratin and the Federal Trade Cmmissin relating t the fitting and dispensing f hearing aids; i. Ten hurs f the psychlgical and scial impact f the lss f hearing n clients; and j. Ten hurs f the apprpriate and ethical marketing and sales prcedures fr hearing aids. Oversight Hearing Aid Specialists receive intense training, cntinuing educatin, and thrugh versight, because withut prper care injury may be caused t patients. Ptential Dangers t Cnsumers Silicne Impressin Material in the Middle Ear

6 Nevada State Bard f Hearing Aid Specialists Causes traumatic inferir perfratin f the tympanic membrane Required tw hur surgery and ear drum repair Imprper Fitting T much amplificatin may cause additinal hearing lss Vulnerable Client Ppulatin Senir Citizens Yung children Hearing Aid Specialists are an integral and independent part f the hearing health cmmunity Because the pssibility f significant danger t the public exists if prper prcedures are nt fllwed, it is vital that individuals dispensing hearing aids be trained fr that purpse, tested n bth knwledge and practical skills, and subject t rigrus versight. All f this is best accmplished by an independent bard that specializes in hearing instruments. Eliminating the independent bard and merging with anther bard wuld generalize the versight, reduce fcus, and, as a result, increase the risks t the public.