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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75480</law_id><section_number>54.1-2600</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-1102</reference><reference>13.1-543</reference><reference>54.1-1500</reference><reference>54.1-2603</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="26">Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Audiologist</span>&#x201D; means any person who engages in the <span class="dictionary">practice of audiology</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Practice of audiology</span>&#x201D; means the practice of conducting measurement, testing and evaluation relating to <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and vestibular systems, including audiologic and electrophysiological measures, and conducting programs of identification, <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> conservation, habilitation, and rehabilitation for the purpose of identifying disorders of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and vestibular systems and modifying communicative disorders related to <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> loss, including but not limited to vestibular evaluation, limited cerumen management, electrophysiological audiometry and cochlear implants. Any person offering services to the public under any descriptive name or title which would indicate that audiology services are being offered shall be deemed to be practicing audiology.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Practice of speech-language pathology</span>&#x201D; means the practice of facilitating development and maintenance of human communication through programs of screening, identifying, assessing and interpreting, diagnosing, habilitating and rehabilitating <span class="dictionary">speech-language disorders</span>, including but not limited to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Providing alternative communication systems and instruction and training in the use thereof; <a id="paragraph-270922" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2600/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Providing aural habilitation, rehabilitation and counseling services to individuals who are deaf or hard of <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and their families; <a id="paragraph-270923" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2600/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Enhancing speech-language proficiency and communication effectiveness; and <a id="paragraph-270924" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2600/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Providing audiologic screening.
			Any person offering services to the public under any descriptive name or title which would indicate that professional speech-language pathology services are being offered shall be deemed to be practicing speech-language pathology.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Speech-language disorders</span>&#x201D; means disorders in fluency, speech articulation, voice, receptive and expressive language (syntax, morphology, semantics, pragmatics), swallowing disorders, and cognitive communication functioning.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Speech-language pathologist</span>&#x201D; means any person who engages in the <span class="dictionary">practice of speech-language pathology</span>. <a id="paragraph-270925" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2600/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 181, &#xA7; 54-83.1:5; 1974, c. 534; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 706; 2014, c. 327; 2019, c. 288.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
