Section 637B.0442 - Delegation of duties by hearing aid specialist or dispensing audiologist to unlicensed office assistant, aide or technician1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist may delegate certain duties to an unlicensed assistant if:(a) The duty being delegated is within the scope of the license or endorsement of the hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist; and(b) The hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist determines, before delegating a duty, that the unlicensed assistant possesses the necessary knowledge, competence, training and skills to perform the duty.2. If a hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist delegates a duty to an unlicensed assistant, the hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist is responsible and civilly liable for any negligence or incompetence of the unlicensed assistant in performing the duty.3. The duties that may be delegated to an unlicensed assistant pursuant to this section include, without limitation: (a) Cleaning hearing aids and amplification devices;(b) Repairing or replacing a broken part of a hearing aid with the same part;(c) Replacing a thin tube or dome with a similar size or style;(e) Returning to a client a repaired hearing aid that does not require fitting, programming or adjusting;(f) Accepting an in-office return of a hearing aid if a receipt is provided to the client to document proof of the return;(g) Performing clerical, secretarial and general administrative duties, including, without limitation, providing information that is readily available to the general public;(h) Greeting, escorting and scheduling clients;(i) Packaging and mailing orders of earmolds, repaired devices and returns to manufacturers or laboratories;(j) Maintaining inventories of supplies and checking the function of equipment;(k) Performing checks on hearing aids and other amplification devices;(l) Performing troubleshooting and minor repairs to hearing aids, earmolds and other amplification devices;(m) Performing electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids and other amplification devices;(n) Demonstrating alerting and assistive listening devices;(o) Verbally instructing a client in proper ear hygiene;(p) Assisting a hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist with treatment programs;(q) Assisting a hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist with setup and technical tasks;(r) Preparing materials for an ear impression;(s) Maintaining and restocking test and treatment rooms;(t) Performing equipment maintenance and biological checks;(u) Performing infection control duties within the clinic;(v) Assisting a client in completing a case history or other relevant forms;(w) Interacting with a manufacturer or supplier of hearing instruments regarding the status of an order or repair; and(x) Translating and interpreting only if the unlicensed assistant is fluent in a language other than English and has the necessary training and skills to perform such translation or interpretation.4. The following duties that involve direct physical contact with a client or a hearing-related procedure or instrument may be delegated to an unlicensed assistant pursuant to this section: (a) Instructing a client in the proper use and care of hearing aids and other amplification devices;(b) Conducting hearing and tympanometric screening on older children and adults without interpretation;(c) Conducting an otoacoustic emission screening;(d) Performing a nondiagnostic otoscopy;(e) Performing a pure-tone audiologic reassessment on an established client;(f) Preparing a client for electronystagmography and videonystagmography or evoked testing;(g) Assisting a hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist in testing the hearing of a pediatric client; and(h) Performing a pure-tone hearing screening and universal newborn hearing screening test.5. A hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist shall not delegate any duty to an unlicensed assistant pursuant to this section that requires professional or advanced training for the practice of audiology or fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Duties that may not be delegated pursuant to this section include, without limitation:(a) Removing a hearing aid from or placing a hearing aid into a client's ear;(b) Programming, adjusting or fitting a hearing aid;(c) Conducting an interview, examination or evaluation relating to a client's hearing or hearing loss;(d) Except for the duties that may be delegated to an unlicensed assistant pursuant to subsection 4, conducting any activity involving direct physical contact with a client and a hearing-related procedure or instrument;(e) Determining case selection or evaluation protocols;(f) Interpreting observations or data into a diagnostic statement of a clinical management strategy or procedure;(g) Participating in a team or case conference or on any interdisciplinary team without the presence of a supervising audiologist or an audiologist designated by the supervising audiologist;(h) Writing, developing or modifying a client's individualized treatment plan;(i) Assisting a client without following the treatment plan prepared by the respective hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist without proper supervision;(j) Composing or signing any formal document such as a treatment plan, reimbursement form, progress note or other report, as applicable;(k) Transmitting or disclosing clinical information, either verbally or in writing, to anyone, including, without limitation, the client, without the approval of the supervising hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist;(l) Selecting a client for treatment services or discharging a client from treatment services;(m) Counseling or consulting with a client, a family member of a client or others regarding the client's status or treatment services or making referrals for additional services; and(n) An unlicensed assistant referring to himself or herself, either verbally or in writing, with a title other than one designated by the supervising hearing aid specialist, audiologist or dispensing audiologist.Nev. Admin. Code § 637B.0442
Added to NAC by Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensing Bd. by R129-15A, eff. 6/28/2016; A by R108-23A, eff. 6/5/2024