HB 957 — Hearing Aid Sales and Distribution

F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 957 2021 A bill to be entitled An act relating to hearing aid consultationssales and sales;distribution;

amending ss.

468.1225 and 484.0501, F.S.;

providing an exception to certain requirements relating to fitting and selling hearing aids;

7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

9 Section 1.

Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 468.1225, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

468.1225 Procedures, equipment, and protocols.— (1) The following minimal procedures must shall be used when a licensed audiologist fits and sells a hearing aid unless the client provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination:

(a) Pure tone audiometric testing by air and bone to determine the type and degree of hearing deficiency when indicated.

(b) Effective masking when indicated.

(c) Appropriate testing to determine speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination scores, the most comfortable listening levels, uncomfortable loudness levels, and the Page 1 of 4 CODING:

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hb0957-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 957 2021 selection of the best fitting arrangement for maximum hearing aid benefit when indicated.

(2) The following equipment must shall be used unless the client provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination:

(a) A wide range audiometer which meets the specifications of the American National Standards Institute for diagnostic audiometers when indicated.

(b) A speech audiometer or a master hearing aid in order to determine the most comfortable listening level and speech discrimination when indicated.

(3) A final fitting ensuring physical and operational comfort of the hearing aid must shall be made when indicated.

(4) A licensed audiologist who fits and sells hearing aids must shall obtain the following medical clearance:

If, upon inspection of the ear canal with an otoscope in the common procedure of fitting a hearing aid or and upon interrogation of the client, there is any recent history of infection or any observable anomaly, the client must shall be instructed to see a physician, and a hearing aid may shall not be fitted until medical clearance is obtained for the condition noted.

If, upon return, the condition noted is no longer observable and the client signs a medical waiver, a hearing aid may be fitted.

Any person with a significant difference between bone conduction hearing and air conduction hearing must be informed of the Page 2 of 4 CODING:

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hb0957-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 957 2021 possibility of medical or surgical correction.

Section 2.

Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 484.0501, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

484.0501 Minimal procedures and equipment.— (1) The following minimal procedures must shall be used in the fitting and selling of hearing aids unless the client provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination:

(a) Pure tone audiometric testing by air and bone to determine the type and degree of hearing deficiency when indicated.

(b) Effective masking when indicated.

(c) Appropriate testing to determine speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination scores, the most comfortable listening levels, uncomfortable loudness levels, and the selection of the best fitting arrangement for maximum hearing aid benefit when indicated.

(2) The following equipment must shall be used unless the client provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination:

(a) A wide range audiometer which meets the specifications of the American National Standards Institute for diagnostic audiometers when indicated.

(b) A speech audiometer or a master hearing aid in order to determine the most comfortable listening level and speech discrimination when indicated.

Page 3 of 4 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0957-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 957 2021 (3) A final fitting ensuring physical and operational comfort of the hearing aid must shall be made when indicated.

(4) The following medical clearance must shall be obtained:

If, upon inspection of the ear canal with an otoscope in the common procedure of a hearing aid fitter or and upon interrogation of the client, there is any recent history of infection or any observable anomaly, the client must shall be instructed to see a physician, and a hearing aid may shall not be fitted until medical clearance is obtained for the condition noted.