Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 4 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION › Chapter 111 - SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS › Subchapter A - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 111.2 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
					 following words and terms shall have the following meanings.
(1) ABA--The American Board of
				  Audiology.
(2) Act--Texas
				  Occupations Code, Chapter 401, relating to Speech-Language Pathologists and
				  Audiologists.
(3) Acts--Texas
				  Occupations Code, Chapter 401, relating to Speech-Language Pathologists and
				  Audiologists; and Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 402, relating to Hearing
				  Instrument Fitters and Dispensers.
(4) Advisory board--The Speech-Language
				  Pathologists and Audiologists Advisory Board.
(5) ASHA--The American
				  Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(6) Assistant in audiology--An individual
				  licensed under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.312 and §
										111.90 of this chapter and who
				  provides audiological support services to clinical programs under the
				  supervision of an audiologist licensed under the Act.
(7) Assistant in speech-language
				  pathology--An individual licensed under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.312 and §
										111.60 of this chapter and who
				  provides speech-language pathology support services under the supervision of a
				  speech-language pathologist licensed under the Act.
(8) Audiologist--An individual who holds a
				  license under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.302 and §
										401.304 to practice
				  audiology.
(9) Audiology--The
				  application of nonmedical principles, methods, and procedures for measurement,
				  testing, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, habilitation,
				  rehabilitation, or instruction related to disorders of the auditory or
				  vestibular systems for the purpose of providing or offering to provide services
				  modifying communication disorders involving speech, language, or auditory or
				  vestibular function or other aberrant behavior relating to hearing
				  loss.
(10) Caseload--The number of
				  clients served by the licensed speech-language pathologist or licensed
				  speech-language pathology intern.
(11) Client--A consumer or proposed consumer
				  of audiology or speech-language pathology services.
(12) Commission--The Texas Commission of
				  Licensing and Regulation.
(13)
				  Department--The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
(14) Direct Supervision (Speech-Language
				  Pathology and Audiology)--Real-time observation and guidance by the supervisor
				  while a client contact or clinical activity or service is performed by the
				  assistant or intern. Direct supervision may be performed in person or via
				  tele-supervision as authorized and prescribed by this chapter.
(15) Ear specialist--A licensed physician who
				  specializes in diseases of the ear and is medically trained to identify the
				  symptoms of deafness in the context of the total health of the client, and is
				  qualified by special training to diagnose and treat hearing loss. Such
				  physicians are also known as otolaryngologists, otologists, neurotologists,
				  otorhinolaryngologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists.
(16) Executive director--The executive
				  director of the department.
(17)
				  Extended absence--More than two consecutive working days for any single
				  continuing education experience.
(18) Extended recheck--Starting at 40 dB and
				  going down by 10 dB until no response is obtained or until 20 dB is reached and
				  then up by 5 dB until a response is obtained. The frequencies to be evaluated
				  are 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 hertz (Hz).
(19) Fitting and dispensing hearing
				  instruments--The measurement of human hearing by the use of an audiometer or
				  other means to make selections, adaptations, or sales of hearing instruments.
				  The term includes prescribing, ordering, or authorizing the use of hearing
				  instruments, the making of impressions for earmolds to be used as a part of the
				  hearing instruments, and providing any necessary postfitting counseling for the
				  purpose of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments.
(20) Hearing aid--Any wearable device
				  designed for, offered for the purpose of, or represented as aiding persons with
				  or compensating for impaired hearing. The term includes hearing instruments and
				  over-the-counter hearing aids.
(21)
				  Hearing instrument--A prescription hearing aid as that term is defined in
				  21 C.F.R.
				  800.30.
(22) Hearing screening--A test administered
				  with pass/fail results for the purpose of rapidly identifying those persons
				  with possible hearing impairment which has the potential of interfering with
				  communication.
(23) In-person--The
				  licensee is physically present with the client while a client contact or
				  clinical activity or service is performed. In the case of supervision, the
				  supervisor is physically present with the assistant or intern while a client
				  contact or clinical activity or service is performed.
(24) Indirect supervision (Speech-Language
				  Pathology and Audiology)--The supervisor performs monitoring activities or
				  provides guidance to the assistant or intern, either of which does not occur
				  during actual client contact by the assistant or intern or while the assistant
				  or intern is providing a clinical activity or service. Tele-supervision may be
				  used for indirect supervision as authorized and prescribed under this
				  chapter.
(25) Intern in
				  audiology--An individual licensed under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.311 and §
										111.80 of this chapter and who is
				  supervised by an individual who holds an audiology license under Texas
				  Occupations Code §
										401.302 and §
										401.304.
(26) Intern in speech-language pathology--An
				  individual licensed under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.311 and §
										111.40 of this chapter and who is
				  supervised by an individual who holds a speech-language pathology license under
				  Texas Occupations Code §
										401.302 and §
										401.304.
(27) Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision
				  Form (for Interns in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology)--An agreement
				  between a supervisor and an intern in which the parties enter into a
				  supervisory relationship and the supervisor agrees to assume responsibility for
				  all services provided by the intern.
(28) Over-the-counter hearing aid--The term
				  has the meaning assigned by 21 C.F.R. Section
				  800.30.
(29) Provisional Licensee--An individual
				  granted a provisional license under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.308.
(30) Sale --The term includes a lease,
				  rental, or any other purchase or exchange for value. The term does not include
				  a sale at wholesale by a manufacturer to a person licensed under the Act or to
				  a distributor for distribution and sale to a person licensed under the
				  Act.
(31) Speech-language
				  pathologist--An individual who holds a license under Texas Occupations Code
				  §
										401.302 and §
										401.304, to practice
				  speech-language pathology.
(32)
				  Speech-language pathology--The application of nonmedical principles, methods,
				  and procedures for measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, counseling,
				  habilitation, rehabilitation, or instruction related to the development and
				  disorders of communication, including speech, voice, language, oral pharyngeal
				  function, or cognitive processes, for the purpose of evaluating, preventing, or
				  modifying or offering to evaluate, prevent, or modify those disorders and
				  conditions in an individual or a group.
(33) Supervisor--An individual who holds a
				  license under Texas Occupations Code §
										401.302 and §
										401.304 and whom the
				  department has approved to oversee the services provided by the assigned
				  assistant and/or intern. The term "supervisor" and "department-approved
				  supervisor" have the same meaning as used throughout this chapter.
(34) Supervisory Responsibility Statement
				  (SRS) Form (for Assistants in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology)--An
				  agreement between a supervisor and an assistant in which the parties enter into
				  a supervisory relationship, the supervisor agrees to assume responsibility for
				  the assistant's activities, and the assistant agrees to perform only those
				  activities assigned by the supervisor that are not prohibited under this
				  chapter.
(35) Telehealth--See
				  definition(s) in Subchapter V, Telehealth.
(36) Tele-supervision--Supervision of interns
				  or assistants that is provided remotely using telecommunications technology.