WSR 97-22-089

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed November 5, 1997, 8:18 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Audiology and speech-language pathology interim permit conditions.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.35.161 and 18.35.060(6).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: There is a potential for physical, economical and mental harm due to inadequately supervised audiology and speech-language pathology students. Individuals in training without defined conditions and supervision may fail to recognize early signs of chronic disease or misuse of hearing instrumentation causing infections or lacerations of the ear or perforation of the ear drum. The proposed rule will provide interim permit holders, supervisors and consumers of hearing and speech services with clear conditions that must be followed by the supervisor and interim permit holder during training.

Process for Developing New Rule: The board and program will work closely with the profession and consumer groups in developing rules. Three public work groups were held to provide an opportunity for public input. The meetings were held in Seattle, Yakima, and Spokane. The board promoted participation from state-wide school districts who employ audiologists and speech-language pathologists; hospitals and clinics throughout the state and professional associations for audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Further input has been requested from members of the public who attended the public work groups. From these efforts, draft language will be developed and shared for on-going direction from interested persons.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Diane Young, Program Manager, Board of Hearing and Speech, 1300 Quince Street S.E., P.O. Box 47869, Olympia, WA 98504-7869, (360) 753-1817, (360) 586-0205, FAX (360) 586-7774.

October 22, 1997

Delores E. Spice