The following definitions apply to all of 260 CMR, unless otherwise specified.

Aide. A person who performs non-treatment activities for a Speech-Language Pathologist, Audiologist, Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensee, or for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant or Audiology Assistant.

ASHA. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

ASHA Code of Ethics. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2023, Code of Ethics, available from http://www.asha.org/policy, [Ethics], adopted by the Board for practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist.

Audiologist. Any person who is duly licensed as an Audiologist by the Board and who engages in the practice of Audiology.

Audiology. The application of principles, methods, and procedures in diagnostics and non- medical treatment of hearing and balance disorders, and consultation and remediation of such disorders. Services may include testing of hearing and balance; recommendation and dispensing of amplification including hearing aids and assistive listening devices; recommendation and management of implantable hearing-related devices; implementation and facilitation of aural habilitation and rehabilitation programs; recommendation and implementation of environmental modifications and educational accommodations; and facilitation of hearing conservation programs.

Audiology Assistant. A person duly certified by the Board who assists in the practice of Audiology and who works under the supervision and direction of a duly licensed Audiologist.

Board. Board shall refer to the Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Board Recognized Entity. ASHA, Massachusetts Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Academy of Audiology or such other entities as the Board may approve.

Client. Anyone to whom a licensee is providing services, including but not limited to a patient or student.

Continuing Education Activities. Continuing education activities consist of:

1. (a) Continuing Education Program. A formal learning program with specific learning objectives relevant to the science or practice of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology that is approved by a Board Recognized Entity;
2. (b) Continuing Education Academic Course. A graduate level course relevant to the science or practice of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology offered by an accredited university or institution of higher education; and
3. (c) Continuing Education Publication. A published book, a chapter of a published book, and/or an article in a refereed journal or published by a Board Recognized Entity, where the book, chapter or article is relevant to the science or practice of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology and is authored in whole or in part by the licensee and submitted as part of a Continuing Education requirement pursuant to 260 CMR 7.00: Continuing Education.

Continuing Education Hour. The unit of measurement for a Continuing Education Activity lasting 60 consecutive minutes.

Continuing Education Unit (CEU). A CEU is the ASHA standard for continuing education as established by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. 0.1 CEU is equivalent to one Continuing Education Hour.

Direct Supervision. Direct supervision means on-site and in-view observation and guidance of an assistant who is performing an assigned activity during patient/client contact time. The supervisor will review data for all patients/clients seen by the assistant.

Indirect Supervision. Indirect Supervision means the oversight, other than direct observation, of activities performed by an assistant in order to provide guidance. Such indirect supervision may include demonstration; record review; review and evaluation of recorded sessions; and supervisory conferences that may be conducted by telephone. The supervisor shall review data for all patients/clients seen by the assistant.

License. For the purposes of 260 CMR 1.00 through 10.00, the term "license" or "licensed" shall mean the authority to practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensee, or Audiologist through licensure by the Board, or the authority to practice as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant or Audiology Assistant through certification by the Board.

Licensee. For the purposes of 260 CMR 1.00 through 10.00, the term "licensee" shall include Speech-Language Pathologists, Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensees, and Audiologists licensed by the Board and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants and Audiology Assistants certified by the Board except where specified.

Plan of Care (Treatment Plan). This terminology includes, but is not limited to, the “Plan of Care”, “Individualized Education Program (IEP)”, or “Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)”, and other titles that outline the care of the patient/client.

Screening. A pass-fail procedure to identify people who may require further assessment.

Speech-Language Pathologist. Any person who is duly licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist by the Board and who engages in the practice of Speech-Language Pathology.

Speech-Language Pathology.

1. (a) The application of principles, methods, and procedures for the measurement, testing, identification, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction and research related to the development and disorders of speech, voice, language, or swallowing for the purpose of diagnosing, designing and implementing programs for the amelioration of such disorders and conditions.
2. (b) The performance of nondiagnostic audiological screening, either for purposes of performing a speech and language evaluation or for the initial identification of individuals with other communication disorders.
3. (c) The provision of aural habilitation/rehabilitation services, for which the Speech- Language Pathologist has been properly trained, to persons with hearing loss.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. A person duly certified by the Board who assists in the practice of Speech-Language Pathology and who works under the supervision and direction of a duly licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.

Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensee. A person duly licensed by the Board to engage in the practice of Speech-Language Pathology during their clinical fellowship under the supervision and direction of a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Supervising Audiologist. An Audiologist licensed by the Board, in good standing, who has been practicing for at least two years following licensure.

Supervising Speech-Language Pathologist. A Speech-Language Pathologist licensed by the Board, in good standing, who has been practicing for at least two years following licensure.