2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 32: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS › Chapter 137: BOARD OF SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING › Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS › 32 §17101. Definitions

§17101. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
1.  Accredited.
"Accredited" means an educational institution that is approved by the United States Department of Education, or one of its regionally accredited agencies.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
2.  Audiologist.
"Audiologist" means an individual who is licensed under this chapter and practices audiology and who by virtue of academic and practical training presents that person to the public by the title or description of services incorporating the words audiologist, hearing clinician, hearing therapist or a similar title or description of service.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Audiology.
"Audiology" means the application of theories, principles and procedures related to hearing and balance disorders for the purposes of assessment and treatment.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
4.  Board.
"Board" means the Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing pursuant to section 17201.
[PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. O, §3 (AMD).]
5.  Calibration.
"Calibration" means the objective adjustment of a machine to an accepted standard. The board shall adopt rules to define recalibration, accepted standards and calibration check.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
6.  Code of ethics.
"Code of ethics" means the code of ethics pertaining to the practices of speech-language pathology, audiology and hearing aid dealing and fitting adopted by the board.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
7.  Commissioner.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
8.  Hearing aid.
"Hearing aid" means a wearable instrument or device designed for or offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories, including ear molds, but excluding batteries and cords.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
9.  Hearing aid dealer and fitter.
"Hearing aid dealer and fitter" means an individual licensed under this chapter who engages in the practice of dealing in and fitting of hearing aids.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
10.  Practice of dealing in and fitting of hearing aids.
"Practice of dealing in and fitting of hearing aids" means, but is not limited to, the selection, adaptation or sale of hearing aids, or parts of hearing aids; the testing of hearing by means of an audiometer or equivalent measurement of hearing; the making of impressions for ear molds; and hearing aid orientation that includes instruction in use and care of the instrument, information regarding expectations and limitations, information regarding the availability of additional services to meet associated needs, auditory rehabilitation, communication therapy and additional special counseling services and information regarding follow-up services, malfunctioning of hearing aids, mechanical adjustment or repair or remakes of hearing aids or ear molds.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
11.  Sell or sale.
"Sell" or "sale" means a transfer of title or of the right to use by lease, bailment or any other contract, between a licensed hearing aid dealer and fitter or a licensed audiologist and a purchaser, but does not include wholesale transactions.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
12.  Speech-language pathologist.
"Speech-language pathologist" means an individual who is licensed under this chapter and who practices speech-language pathology and who by virtue of academic and practical training presents the individual to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words speech pathologist, speech therapist, speech correctionist, speech clinician, language pathologist, language therapist, logopedist, communicologist, voice therapist, voice pathologist or any similar title or description of service.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
13.  Speech-language pathologist and audiologist.
"Speech-language pathologist and audiologist" means an individual who is dually licensed under this chapter and who practices speech-language pathology and audiology.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
14.  Speech-language pathology.
"Speech-language pathology" means the application of theories, principles and procedures related to development and disorders of language and speech for purposes of assessment and treatment.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
15.  Speech-language pathology aide.
[PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. O, §4 (RP).]
16.  Speech-language pathology assistant.
"Speech-language pathology assistant" means an individual who meets minimum qualifications that the board may establish for speech-language pathology assistants, that are less than those qualifications established by this chapter for licensure as a speech-language pathologist, but must include an associate degree or its equivalent, as determined by the board, or a higher degree in the field of communication disorders.
[PL 2019, c. 503, Pt. E, §1 (AMD).]
17.  Supervision.
"Supervision" means the direct observation of work and the assessment of written records of service by a licensed speech pathologist, licensed audiologist, licensed physician or licensed hearing aid dealer and fitter licensed under this chapter commensurate with the skills of the individual as determined by the supervisor.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
18.  Temporary license.
"Temporary license" means an individual who is licensed under this chapter and practices audiology or speech-language pathology while under supervision and training of an individual who holds a valid license in good standing in the appropriate specialty under this chapter.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
19.  Trainee permit.
"Trainee permit" means an individual licensed under this chapter who practices in hearing aid dealing and fitting while under supervision and training of an individual who holds a valid license in good standing to practice hearing aid dealing and fitting under this chapter.
[PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW); PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 (NEW). PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §5 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. O, §§3, 4 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 503, Pt. E, §1 (AMD).