A Change to Dispensing Audiologist/Hearing Instrument Dispensers Continuing Education Requirement

Dear Friend and Colleagues,
Recently New York State changed the continuing education requirements for dispensing Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Dispensers effective January 1, 2019. In the near future, one hour of instruction on telecoil (t-coil) and other assistive listening devices will be required. I was excited to teach the first course on T Coils and Hearing Assistance Technology (HAT) offered at a recent Hearing Health Care Alliance of New York conference in the spring. I feel this is a positive change because I occasionally hear from consumers who were informed by a Dispenser that T coils are not needed in hearing instruments. T Coils are needed in order for consumers to use hearing loop systems and FM and IR system receivers with a neckloop. One of these three types of hearing assistance technology is required in public places. Let’s do our part and program manually accessible T coils in hearing instruments so consumers can benefit from the use of hearing loops, FM and IR systems.

Here is the full text with a link below:

NOTICE OF ADOPTION Continuing Education Requirements
I.D. No. DOS-31-17-00005-A Filing No. 1026
Filing Date: 2017-11-30 Effective Date: 2019-01-01
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following action:
Action taken: Amendment of section 192.7(v) and (w) of Title 19 NYCRR. Statutory authority: General Business Law, sections 791(2), 794 and 803 Subject: Continuing education requirements.

Purpose: To amend the education requirements to include one hour of instruction on telecoil (t-coil) and other assistive listening devices.
 Text or summary was published in the August 2, 2017 issue of the Register, I.D. No. DOS-31-17-00005-P.
Final rule as compared with last published rule: No changes.
 Text of rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from: David Mossberg, NYS Dept. of State, 123 William St., 20th Fl., New York, NY 10038, (212) 417-2063, email: david.mossberg@dos.ny.gov
Initial Review of Rule
As a rule that requires a RFA, RAFA or JIS, this rule will be initially reviewed in the calendar year 2020, which is no later than the 3rd year after the year in which this rule is being adopted.

Assessment of Public Comment
The Department received one comment in relation to this rule. The comment submitted on behalf of the Hearing Healthcare Alliance of New York (HHCANY) requested that the Department withdraw the proposal citing the purported need to maintain a minimum 2 hours of continuing education on infection control. Having reviewed and considered the objections raised by the HHCANY, the Department finds these concerns insufficient to withdraw the rule. As alluded to by the HHCANY, the Department and Hearing Aid Dispensing Advisory Board undertook significant efforts to address concerns presented by several consumers, and the findings of a specially created subcommittee, regarding the adequacy of consumer information. As the technology that supports hearing aid devices is continually and rapidly developing, there is a significant need to ensure that the consumers which rely on these devices are properly educated, and the registered dispensers which sell these devices are adequately prepared to respond to consumer needs; the proposed rule will address these concerns. The HHCANY’s comment, though important, does not present significant alternatives that the Department could consider to address the need this rule is designed to remedy. Moreover, the Department finds that one hour of infection control is sufficient as a renewal course, particularly when considering that several other jurisdictions permit renewal of similar licenses with no continuing education requirements at all. Accordingly, for the reasons provided above, the Department has not made any changes to the proposed rule.

For the complete document click here.