Bill 3791

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3791
Ratification Number:       553
Act Number                 464
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Definitions for the purpose of the
                           regulation of speech/language pathologists
                           and

(A464, R553, H3791)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-67-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE REGULATION OF SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY" AND TO REVISE THE TERMS "SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST", "THE PRACTICE OF SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY", AND "THE PRACTICE OF AUDIOLOGY".

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Definitions added and revised

SECTION 1. Section 40-67-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 40-67-20. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(A) 'Board' means the State Board of Examiners in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology.

(B) 'Person' means any individual, organization, or corporation, except that only individuals can be licensed under this chapter.

(C) 'Speech/language pathology' means the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to the development and disorders of speech and language. Disorders include any nonmedical conditions that impede the normal process of human communication, including, but not limited to, disorders and related disorders of speech, articulation, fluency, voice, verbal and written language, cognition or communication, oral, pharygeal, and laryngeal sensorimotor competencies.

(D) 'Speech/language pathologist' means a person who evaluates, tests, examines, treats, or counsels persons regarding a speech, language, or voice disorder. Speech, language, or voice disorders include any nonmedical conditions which impede the normal process of human communication.

A person represents himself to be a speech/language pathologist when he holds himself out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words 'speech pathologist', 'speech pathology', 'speech therapy', 'speech correction', 'speech correctionist', 'speech therapist', 'speech clinic', 'speech clinician', 'language pathology', 'language pathologist', 'logopedics', 'logopedist', 'communicology', 'communicologist', 'aphasiologist', 'voice therapy', 'voice therapist', 'voice pathologist', 'voice pathology', 'voxologist', 'language therapist', 'phoniatrist', or any similar variation of these terms, to describe any function or service he performs.

(E) 'The practice of speech/language pathology' means the rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any service in speech/language pathology involving, but not limited to, the application of principles, methods, and procedures for the measurement, testing, identification, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, and research related to disorders of speech, voice, or language for the purpose of identifying, preventing, treating, and ameliorating these disorders and conditions. It also means determining the need for augmentative speech-producing communication systems, dispensing these systems, and providing training in utilization of these systems and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render any service in speech/language pathology. The practice of speech/language pathology includes pure-tone air conduction screening, limited to a pass or fail determination, for the purpose of performing a speech and language evaluation or for the initial identification of individuals with other disorders of communication.

(F) 'Audiologist' means a person holding a master's degree or doctor's degree in audiology. A person represents himself to be an audiologist when he holds himself out to the public by any title or description of services which incorporates the words 'audiologist' or 'audiology' or similar titles.

(G) 'The practice of audiology' means the application of principles, methods, and procedures of measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, and research related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of modifying communicative disorders involving speech, language, auditory function, or other aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. An audiologist is a person who determines range, type, and degree of hearing function related to the patient's auditory efficiency and communicative needs. The audiologist coordinates audiologic findings with other data, such as educational, medical, legal, industrial, occupational, social, and behavioral information; the audiologist may plan, direct, and conduct or participate in: identification and hearing conservation programs; habilitative and rehabilitative programs including hearing aid evaluation; and hearing aid recommendation, counseling, guidance, auditory training, speech reading, language development, and speech conservation. Nothing in this section may be construed to give audiologists the right to sell hearing aids unless they are licensed to do so under requirements pursuant to the law of this State. The practice of audiology also includes speech or language screening limited to a pass or fail determination, for the purpose of initial identification of individuals with other disorders of communication as part of a hearing evaluation."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 3rd day of May, 1990.