                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 54.1-2600)

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Audiologist&#8221; means any person who engages in the practice of
audiology.
		&#8220;Board&#8221; means the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language
Pathology.
		&#8220;Practice of audiology&#8221; means the practice of conducting
measurement, testing and evaluation relating to hearing and vestibular systems,
including audiologic and electrophysiological measures, and conducting programs
of identification, hearing conservation, habilitation, and rehabilitation for
the purpose of identifying disorders of the hearing and vestibular systems and
modifying communicative disorders related to hearing 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.
		&#8220;Practice of speech-language pathology&#8221; means the practice of
facilitating development and maintenance of human communication through programs
of screening, identifying, assessing and interpreting, diagnosing, habilitating
and rehabilitating speech-language disorders, including but not limited to:

1. Providing alternative communication systems and instruction and training in
the use thereof;

2. Providing aural habilitation, rehabilitation and counseling services to
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families;

3. Enhancing speech-language proficiency and communication effectiveness; and

4. 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.
			&#8220;Speech-language disorders&#8221; means disorders in fluency, speech
articulation, voice, receptive and expressive language (syntax, morphology,
semantics, pragmatics), swallowing disorders, and cognitive communication
functioning.
			&#8220;Speech-language pathologist&#8221; means any person who engages in the
practice of speech-language pathology.

HISTORY: 1972, c. 181, § 54-83.1:5; 1974, c. 534; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 706;
2014, c. 327; 2019, c. 288.