R156-46a-502b. Minimum Components of an Evaluation for a Hearing Aid and Dispensing of a Hearing Aid

(1) The minimum components of a hearing aid examination are the following:

(a) air conduction tests at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz;

(b) appropriate masking if the air conduction threshold at any one frequency differs from the bone conduction threshold of the contralateral or nontest ear by 40 decibels at the same frequency;

(c) bone conduction tests at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hertz on every client with proper masking;

(d) speech audiometry by live voice or recorded voice, including speech discrimination testing, most comfortable loudness (MCL) measurements and measurements of uncomfortable levels of loudness (UCL); and

(e) recording and interpretation of audiograms and speech audiometry and other appropriate tests for the sole purpose of determining proper selection and adaptation of a hearing aid.

(2) Only when the above procedures are clearly impractical may the selection of the best instrument to compensate for the loss be made by trial of one or more instruments.

(3) Tests performed by a physician specializing in diseases of the ear, a clinical audiologist or another licensed hearing instrument specialist shall be accepted if they were performed within six months prior to the dispensing of the hearing aid.