Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1370 - Communication Disorders
Chapter 1370-02 - General Rules Governing Hearing Instrument Specialists
Section 1370-02-.21 - RECORDS, SERVICES AND TESTS
Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1370-02-.21
Current through April 3, 2024
(1) Records
(a) Client's Record. The record for each
client shall include a case history, the results of all required tests and a
legend (key) explaining the symbols of results used in the audiogram. Records
of the required test and dispensing procedures shall be maintained as a part of
the client's file and shall show also the model number or name, serial number,
type of circuit response or any adjustment made on instruments that have
adjustable circuits. Such records shall be maintained and preserved for a
minimum of three (3) years after the last entry in the records.
(b) Orientation Program. Every hearing aid
client shall be offered at the site of the sale a personalized counseling
program provided by the HIS or an individual licensed by the Council. The
counseling program shall be provided with each new fitting and designed to
ensure that proper use and operation of the instrument are understood by the
client.
(c) Earmold. Every air
conduction fitting that requires an earmold shall include a properly fitting
custom earmold except in cases where, in the dispenser's judgment, the client
would be better fitted without the use of a new mold. In special fittings where
an earmold is not required, such shall be noted in the record.
(d) Examination of the Ear. The dispenser
shall make an examination of the client's external ears by means of an
otoscope, or other instrument designed for that purpose, before any audiometric
test is made and before and after the making of an earmold impression. Any
abnormality detected by this inspection must be reported to the client and the
client advised to seek medical advice and this shall be recorded on the test
record.
(2) Bill of Sale for hearing equipment - To insure that appropriate follow up services are available to consumers in Tennessee, licensees shall deliver to each person supplied with a hearing instrument a bill of sale which contains each of the following:
(a) The signature of the licensed
hearing instrument specialist, the address of the specialist's regular place of
business, the specialist's license number with an expiration date.
(b) The make and model of the hearing
instrument supplied and the amount charged including a description, i.e., new,
used, rebuilt.
(c) Clear statement
of terms of sale including provisions required by T.C.A. §
63-17-217.
(d) Name and address of the
Council.
(e) Statement that the
Council will receive complaints on any matter relating to the fitting and
dispensing of hearing instruments.
(f) If the licensee has no location in
Tennessee, an outline of follow up services must be made available to Tennessee
residents who purchase the dealer's services within Tennessee.
(3) Tests
(a) Puretone Audiometry
1. Thresholds shall be determined for each
ear with air and bone conducted puretone stimuli. Air conduction stimuli must
include 0.5, 1, 2, and 4K Hertz. Bone conduction stimuli must include .05, 1,
2, and 4K Hertz. On a client whose bone conduction threshold has been
previously charted and that chart is a part of the client's permanent record,
the licensee, at his discretion, may omit any new bone conduction testing, if
there has been no appreciable change in the air conduction
thresholds.
2. Appropriate masking
must be used with air and bone conducted stimuli whenever necessary to obtain
valid results.
(b)
Discrimination Tests. There shall be a measurement of the client's speech
discrimination ability at each ear using widely recognized test material prior
to fitting. Appropriate masking must be used with speech stimuli whenever
necessary to obtain valid results.
(c) Post-Fitting Tests. There shall be a
measurement of the client's hearing ability using widely recognized test
material while the client is wearing the selected hearing aid(s) adjusted for
the selection gain, M.P. output, and frequency response.
(d) Tests for Tolerance. There shall be a
measurement of the client's tolerance for amplified auditory stimuli using
speech, puretones, or a complex signal representative of the speech spectrum
(0.5, 1 and 2K Hz) or a method deemed acceptable by the Council.
(e) Omitted Tests.
1. The required tests may be omitted only
under the most unusual circumstances, such as the inability of the client to
perform the task.
2. When a fitting
is being made upon referral, the specified tests may be omitted if the
referring source has forwarded to the dispenser copies of those test results.
However, these tests must have been performed within ninety (90) days. The
licensed dispenser who omits specified tests and accepts tests performed by
referring professional shall orally inform and conspicuously set forth in the
sales contract that the hearing aid dispenser is not responsible for the
validity and accuracy of the tests.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-15-101, 63-15-103, 63-15-110, 63-15-114, 63-15-115, 63-17-201, 63-17-203, 63-17-210, 63-17-214, and 63-17-215.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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