South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-3 - The Practice of Selling and Fitting Hearing Aids › Part II › Chapter II - Procedures › Section 61-3.II.II.201 - Procedures/Equipment

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
1. The following
				  procedure shall be used in the fitting and selling of hearing aids where
				  applicable:
(a) Pure tone audiometric testing
				  by air and bone conduction to determine the level of hearing
				  impairment.
(b) Speech reception
				  threshold, speech discrimination, sound pressure measurement of the speech
				  frequency range for the purpose of determining the best ear(s) for maximal
				  hearing aid benefit and comfort. Selection of the best instrument to compensate
				  for degree of loss.
(c) Only when
				  the above procedures are clearly impractical, then the selection of the best
				  instrument to compensate the loss may be made by trial of several instruments.
The following minimal equipment shall be used in the
					 fitting and selling of hearing aids:
(a) Pure tone audiometer which shall meet
				  with the latest specification standards as determined by the
				  Department.
(b) Speech audiometer
				  or a master hearing aid in order to determine the most comfortable listening
				  level and speech discrimination.
(c) Ear light or an otoscope, for revealing
				  any obstruction of the auditory canal, shall be free of cerumen and maintained
				  in an aseptic manner at all times.
(d) Audiometers shall be checked for proper
				  calibration as often as deemed necessary but not less than once each year.
				  Evidence of calibration shall be furnished with the license renewal application
				  and a copy maintained on file in the office.
1. Calibration shall be conducted by person,
				  or an institution of higher learning equipped with proper instruments for
				  calibrating as determined by the Department.
(e) Maintain or have access to facilities for
				  making ear molds.
(f) A hearing aid
				  office or place of business must have available or access to a selection of
				  hearing aids and supplies and offer services complete enough to accommodate
				  within reasonable limits the various needs of the clientele.
(g) The testing room shall be sufficient in
				  dimensions to accommodate all equipment necessary for the proper testing and
				  evaluation of the client.
(h) Every
				  person who fits and sells hearing aids shall transmit to each person supplied
				  with a hearing aid a receipt which shall contain the licensee's signature, show
				  his business address and the license or temporary permit number together with
				  the make, model and serial number of the hearing aid furnished and full terms
				  of the sale clearly stated thereon. In the event of a used or rebuilt,
				  reconditioned hearing aid, it shall be so specified on said receipt and shall
				  indicate the length of time of the guarantee and by whom guaranteed.
1. The licensee shall advise the purchaser
				  prior to any sale, testing or evaluation by the hearing aid dealer that any
				  examination or representation is not to be construed as a diagnosis, a medical
				  opinion or that such examination imparts to the purchaser a prescription by a
				  person licensed to practice medicine in this State.
2. Any person engaging in the fitting and
				  sale of hearing aids will, when dealing with a child twelve years of age or
				  under, ascertain whether the child has been examined by an otolaryngologist for
				  his recommendation within ninety days prior to the fitting. If such not be the
				  case, a recommendation to do so must be made and this fact noted on the
				  receipt.