The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them under this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Audiologist” shall mean a person who is licensed to practice audiology pursuant to this act and who offers such services to the public under any title or description of services incorporating the words “audiologist,” “hearing clinician,” “hearing therapist,” “aural rehabilitator” or any other similar title or description of service.

(2) “Audiology aide” shall mean a person who is certified by the Council of Accreditation of Occupational Hearing Conservationists, or its equivalent, and whose supervising licensed audiologist annually shall register such person with the Board. The audiology aide shall perform services only under the direct supervision of an audiologist licensed in this State.

(3) “Board” shall mean the State Board of Speech/Language Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers established in this chapter.

(4) “Division” shall mean the state Division of Professional Regulation.

(5) “Excessive use or abuse of drugs” shall mean any use of narcotics, controlled substances or illegal drugs without a prescription from a licensed physician, or the abuse of alcoholic beverage such that it impairs an individual’s ability to perform the work of a speech/language pathologist, audiologist or hearing aid dispenser.

(6) “Hearing aid” shall mean any personal, wearable instrument or device designed for, offered for the purpose of, or represented as, aiding persons with, or compensating for, impaired hearing.

(7) “Hearing aid dispenser” shall mean a person licensed to dispense hearing aids pursuant to this Act and who is engaged in the evaluation or measurement of the power or range of human hearing by means of an audiometer or any other means devised for the purpose of selecting, adapting and distributing or selling of hearing aids. Testing shall not include medical diagnosis or audiologic evaluation. Licensed hearing aid dispensers may provide instruction, orientation and counseling on the use and operation of a hearing aid; and they may use an otoscope or “ear light” to evaluate the feasibility and use of ear molds and ear mold impressions.

(8) “Person” shall mean a corporation, company, association or partnership, as well as an individual. Licenses shall be issued only to individuals under this chapter.

(9) “Practice of audiology” shall mean the application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, habilitation and rehabilitation related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of evaluating, identifying, preventing, ameliorating or modifying such disorders and conditions in individuals and/or groups. For the purpose of this paragraph, the terms “habilitation” and “rehabilitation” shall include, but are not limited to, hearing aid evaluation, recommendation, and fitting and selecting, adapting and distributing or selling of hearing aids.

(10) “Practice of speech/language pathology” shall mean the application of principles, methods and procedures for measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, counseling, instruction, habilitation or rehabilitation related to the development and disorders of speech, language, voice, rate or rhythm for the purpose of evaluating, preventing, ameliorating or modifying such disorders in individuals and/or groups.

(11) “Speech/language pathologist” shall mean a person who is licensed to practice speech/language pathology pursuant to this act and who offers such services to the public under any title or description of services incorporating the words “speech/language pathologist,” “speech pathologist,” “language pathologist,” “speech and/or language therapist,” “speech and/or language correctionist,” “speech and/or language clinician,” “voice therapist,” “communicologist,” “aphasiologist” or any other similar title or description of service.

(12) “Speech pathology aide” shall mean a person, who meets minimum qualifications that the Board may establish, which permit such an aide to assist speech/language pathologists in their professional endeavors, but only while under the direct supervision of a licensed speech/language pathologist.

(13) “State” shall mean the State of Delaware.

(14) “Substantially related” means the nature of the criminal conduct, for which the person was convicted, has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the practice of speech/language pathology, audiology and/or the dispensing of hearing aids.

24 Del. C. 1953, § 3603; 59 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 4; 65 Del. Laws, c. 224, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 266, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 80; 77 Del. Laws, c. 154, § 1.