Practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids, certification of hearing instrument specialists to engage in cerumen management, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
A pivotal aspect of AB431 is the introduction of cerumen management by hearing instrument specialists. Under current law, while audiologists have the authority to engage in cerumen management, hearing instrument specialists are restricted from performing these procedures. The bill mandates the Hearing and Speech Examining Board to issue certifications to specialists who have completed a designated cerumen management course, effectively allowing them to participate more comprehensively in ear care.
Assembly Bill 431 aims to amend the legal framework surrounding the fitting and dealing of hearing aids in Wisconsin. The bill delineates the practice to encompass only the selections, adaptations, or sales of prescription hearing aids. This change in definition signals a sharper focus on the type of hearing aids that can be approved and dispensed by hearing instrument specialists and audiologists, streamlining the legal requirements in this domain.
The bill also lays out specific rules that the Hearing and Speech Examining Board must establish regarding the scope of cerumen management and infection control practices. There may be concerns among professionals about the adequacy of the training that specialists will receive, as well as potential pushbacks from audiologists who might view this expansion of scope as a competitive threat to their services. The requirement for malpractice liability coverage reinforces the seriousness of the certification process and the expectations placed upon those engaging in cerumen management.