Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-828 - Hearing and speech
Section 246-828-615 - Standards for hearing aid specialist programs
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-828-615
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
The curriculum of the program must include the components listed in this section.
(1) The standards in this section are intended as minimum components of a curriculum, and are not intended as an exact description of program curricula. To ensure a graduate or certificate holder is competent and can function on his or her own, the curriculum should be designed to ensure proficiency in all curriculum components through extensive practical work experience in addition to academic instruction. All necessary instruments and laboratories based on industry standards are a prerequisite.
(2)Minimum requirements for two-year degree programs:
(a)Supervised
practicum: Including hands-on experience with patients.
(i) The supervised practicum must consist of
a minimum of five hundred twenty hours.
(ii) Two hundred sixty of the five hundred
twenty hours must be directly supervised. The remaining hours may be directly
or indirectly supervised.
(b)English composition: Written
presentations.
(c)Occupational communications:
Oral presentations, documentation of professional activities.
(d)
Occupational human
relations: Code of professional ethics, interpersonal skills,
teamwork.
(e)
Acoustics: The physics of sound and basic acoustics.
(f)Hearing instrument sciences:
Basic electronics, circuit designs of hearing instruments, testing methodology
of instruments, test standards, familiarity with all major types of instruments
on the market, basic signal processing, programming of digital instruments
using computers.
(g)
Hearing
physiology and anatomy: Anatomy and physiology of the human auditory
system.
(h)
Pathophysiology
of auditory system: Introductory level study of genetic disorders and
infectious diseases of the auditory system.
(i)
Psychological aspects of hearing
loss: Curricula should be designed so the student understands:
(i) How hearing loss affects patients and
others close to them;
(ii) How to
follow up with patients after initial fitting; and
(iii) Methods of instruction on effective
communication strategies for individuals with hearing impairments.
(j)
Audiometrics:
Performing pure tone and speech audiometry and interpretation, measuring output
of instruments both in the lab and in the ear.
(k)
Earmolds: Emphasis on
impression-taking techniques, practical skills, safety, selection, and
modification. Direct supervision is required for all earmold
impressions.
(l)
Instrument
selection: Recommending the best technology according to the patient's
or client's needs from basic through advanced analog and digital instruments,
including referrals for medically implantable devices.
(m)
Health care and business:
Laws governing the profession, insurance aspects, health care management,
advertising, marketing, purchase agreements, and sales.
(n)
Introduction to speech-language
pathology and audiology.
(o)
Overview of medically implantable devices, including criteria for
referral.
(3) Minimum requirements for nine-month certificate programs:
(a)Supervised practicum:
Including hands-on experience with patients.
(i) The supervised practicum must consist of
a minimum of five hundred twenty hours.
(ii) Two hundred sixty of the five hundred
twenty hours must be directly supervised. The remaining hours may be directly
or indirectly supervised.
(iii)
Methods of instruction on effective communication strategies for individuals
with hearing impairments.
(b)Occupational communications:
Documentation of professional activities.
(c)
Occupational human
relations: Code of professional ethics.
(d)Acoustics: The physics of
sound and basic acoustics.
(e)Hearing instrument sciences:
Basic electronics, circuit designs of hearing instruments, testing methodology
of instruments, test standards, familiarity with all major types of instruments
on the market, basic signal processing, programming of digital instruments
using computers.
(f)
Hearing
physiology and anatomy: Anatomy and physiology of the human auditory
system.
(g)
Pathophysiology
of auditory system: Introductory level study of genetic disorders and
infectious diseases of the auditory system.
(h)
Psychological aspects of hearing
loss: Curricula should be designed so the student understands:
(i) How hearing loss affects patients and
others close to them;
(ii) How to
follow up with patients after initial fitting; and
(iii) Methods of instruction on effective
communication strategies for individuals with hearing impairments.
(i)
Audiometrics:
Performing pure tone and speech audiometry and interpretation, measuring output
of instruments both in the lab and in the ear.
(j)
Earmolds: Emphasis on
impression-taking techniques, practical skills, safety, selection, and
modification. Direct supervision is required for all earmold
impressions.
(k)
Instrument
selection: Recommending the best technology according to the patient's
or client's needs from basic through advanced analog and digital instruments,
including referrals for medically implantable devices.
(l)
Health care and business:
Laws governing the profession, insurance aspects, health care management,
advertising, marketing, purchase agreements, and sales.
(m)
Introduction to speech-language
pathology and audiology.
(n)
Overview of medically implantable devices, including criteria for
referral.
Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.040 and 18.35.161. 06-10-025, § 246-828-615, filed 4/26/06, effective 5/27/06.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington 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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