(1) The supervisor is obligated to ensure that the aide assist only in the provision of those services that are within the abilities of the aide as determined by the training and experience of that aide or assistant. The supervisor is directly responsible for all decisions affecting the client in all phases of diagnosis, treatment, and disposition. It is recognized that administrative responsibilities for an aide or assistant may be with other than the professional supervisor and those responsibilities are not included in this regulation.

(2) Audiology aides or assistants shall not perform any task without the expressed knowledge and approval of the supervising audiologist.

(3) All audiology aides or assistants shall be under appropriate supervision. Each aide or assistant shall comply with the following function guidelines:

(a) audiology aide or assistant may:

(i) greet, escort, and schedule patients;

(ii) package and mail earmold orders, device repairs, and factory returns;

(iii) perform inventories of equipment and supplies;

(iv) enter clinic supply orders;

(v) perform checks on hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(vi) clean hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(vii) perform troubleshooting and minor repairs to hearing aids, earmolds, and other amplification devices;

(viii) perform electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(ix) instruct patients in proper use and care of hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(x) demonstrate alerting and assistive listening devices;

(xi) instruct patients in proper ear hygiene;

(xii) assist audiologists in treatment programs;

(xiii) assist audiologists with setup and technical tasks, including restoring setting in hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(xiv) prepare materials for ear impressions;

(xv) maintain and restock test and treatment rooms;

(xvi) perform equipment maintenance and biological checks;

(xvii) conduct but not interpret hearing and tympanometric screening for children aged three and older and adults;

(xviii) conduct otoacoustic emission screening;

(xix) perform nondiagnostic otoscopy;

(xx) perform, but not interpret, audiologic and vestibular tests;

(xxi) assist audiologists in hearing testing of pediatric patients;

(xxii) perform pure-tone hearing screening;

(xxiii) perform universal newborn hearing screening tests;

(xxiv) perform infection control duties within the clinic/service; and

(xxv) assist patients in completing case history or other relevant forms.

(4) Audiology aides or assistants shall comply with the following guidelines on functions that are not allowed:

(a) audiology aide or assistant may not:

(i) determine case selection or evaluation protocols;

(ii) interpret observations or data into diagnostic statements of clinical management strategies or procedures;

(iii) participate in team or case conferences, or any interdisciplinary team, without the presence of the supervising audiologist or an audiologist designated by the supervising audiologist;

(iv) write, develop, or modify a patient's individualized treatment plan;

(v) assist with patients without following the treatment plan prepared by the audiologist or without proper supervision;

(vi) compose or sign any formal documents (e.g., treatment plans, reimbursement forms, or reports); progress notes written by audiology assistants may be reviewed and cosigned by the supervising audiologist, subject to local facility policy;

(vii) transmit clinical information either orally or in writing to anyone, including the patient, except at the direction of the supervising audiologist;

(viii) select patients for treatment services or discharge patients from treatment services;

(ix) disclose clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone other than the supervising audiologist, except at the direction of the supervising audiologist;

(x) counsel or consult with the patient, family, or others regarding the patient status or service, or make referrals for additional services, except at the direction of the supervising audiologist;

(xi) refer to themselves either orally or in writing with a title other than one determined by the supervising audiologist;

(xii) make ear impressions;

(xiii) fit hearing aids or other amplification devices; or

(xiv) map cochlear implants.

(5) Audiology aides or assistants and industrial audiology aides or assistants shall comply with the supervision plan and functions submitted by the supervisor at the time of application, and with all other statutory or rule requirements.