Definitions. (Repealed effective July 1, 2028.)

As used in the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act: A. "apprentice" means a person working toward full licensure in speech-language pathology who meets the requirements for licensure as an apprentice in speech and language pursuant to the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act; B. "appropriate supervisor" means a person licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act who has a minimum of two years' experience as a speech-language pathologist after the clinical fellowship year; C. "auditory trainer" means a custom-fitted FM amplifying instrument other than a hearing aid designed to enhance signal-to-noise ratios; D. "audiologist" means a person who engages in the practice of audiology, who may or may not dispense hearing aids and who meets the qualifications set forth in the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act; E. "bilingual-multicultural endorsement" means an endorsement that is issued pursuant to the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act to a qualified speech-language pathologist and that recognizes the licensee's or applicant's demonstrated proficiency in the use of languages other than English to provide speech-language pathology services; F. "board" means the speech-language pathology, audiology and hearing aid dispensing practices board; G. "business location" means a permanent physical business location in New Mexico where records can be examined and process served; H. "certification by a national professional association" means certification issued by a board-approved national speech-language or hearing association; I. "clinical fellow" means a person who has completed all academic course work and practicum requirements for a master's degree or the equivalent in speech-language pathology and engages in the practice of speech-language pathology as set forth in the provisions of the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act; J. "clinical fellowship year" or "CFY" means the time following the completion of all academic course work and practicum requirements for a master's degree in speech- language pathology and during which a clinical fellow is working toward certification by a national professional association; K. "department" means the regulation and licensing department; L. "hearing aid" means a wearable instrument or device designed or offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories, including earmolds but excluding batteries and cords; M. "hearing aid dispenser" means a person other than an audiologist or an otolaryngologist who is licensed to sell, fit and service hearing aids pursuant to the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act and maintains or occupies a permanent physical business location in New Mexico where records can be examined and process can be served; N. "otolaryngologist" means a licensed physician who has completed a recognized residency in otolaryngology and is certified by the American board of otolaryngology; O. "paraprofessional" means a person who provides adjunct speech-pathology or audiology services under the direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist; P. "practice of audiology" means the application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, testing, appraisal, prognostication, aural rehabilitation, aural habilitation, consultation, hearing aid selection and fitting, counseling, instruction and research related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of nonmedical diagnosis, prevention, identification, amelioration or the modification of communicative disorders involving speech, language auditory function or other aberrant behavior related to hearing disorders; Q. "practice of hearing aid dispensing" means the behavioral measurement of human hearing for the purpose of the selection and fitting of hearing aids or other rehabilitative devices to ameliorate the dysfunction of hearing sensitivity; this may include otoscopic inspection of the ear, fabrication of ear impressions and earmolds, instruction, consultation and counseling on the use and care of these instruments, medical referral when appropriate and the analysis of function and servicing of these instruments involving their modification or adjustment; R. "practice of speech-language pathology" means the rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations or the public any service in speech or language pathology involving the nonmedical application of principles, methods and procedures for the measurement, testing, diagnosis, prognostication, counseling and instruction related to the development and disorders of communications, speech, fluency, voice, verbal and written language, auditory comprehension, cognition, dysphagia, oral pharyngeal or laryngeal sensorimotor competencies and treatment of persons requiring use of an augmentative communication device for the purpose of nonmedical diagnosing, preventing, treating and ameliorating such disorders and conditions in individuals and groups of individuals; S. "screening" means a pass-fail procedure to identify individuals who may require further assessment in the areas of speech-language pathology, audiology or hearing aid dispensing; T. "speech-language pathologist" means a person who engages in the practice of speech-language pathology and who meets the qualifications set forth in the Speech- Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act; U. "sponsor" means a licensed hearing aid dispenser, audiologist or otolaryngologist who has an endorsement to dispense hearing aids and: (1) is employed in the same business location where the trainee is being trained; and (2) has been actively engaged in the dispensing of hearing aids during three of the past five years; V. "student" means a person who is a full- or part-time student enrolled in an accredited college or university program in speech-language pathology, audiology or communicative disorders; W. "supervisor" means a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act who provides supervision in the area of speech-language pathology or audiology; and X. "trainee" means a person working toward full licensure as a hearing aid dispenser under the direct supervision of a sponsor.