This section defines several terms used in the chapter, including advisory board, audiologist, audiology, commission, department, executive director, and speech-language pathology.
Sec. 401.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Advisory board" means the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Advisory Board. (1-a) "Audiologist" means a person who meets the qualifications of this chapter to practice audiology. (2) "Audiology" means the application of nonmedical principles, methods, and procedures for measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction, consultation, counseling, habilitation, rehabilitation, or instruction related to disorders of the auditory or vestibular systems for the purpose of providing or offering to provide services modifying communicative disorders involving speech, language, or auditory or vestibular function or other aberrant behavior relating to hearing loss. (3) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. (4) "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. (4-a) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department. (4-b) "Fitting and dispensing hearing instruments," "hearing instrument," "over-the-counter hearing aid," and "sale" have the meanings assigned to those terms by Section 402.001. (5) "Speech-language pathologist" means a person who meets the qualifications of this chapter to practice speech-language pathology. (6) "Speech-language pathology" means the application of nonmedical principles, methods, and procedures for measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, counseling, habilitation, rehabilitation, or instruction related to the development and disorders of communication, including speech, voice, language, oral pharyngeal function, or cognitive processes, for the purpose of evaluating, preventing, or modifying or offering to evaluate, prevent, or modify those disorders and conditions in an individual or a group. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 619 (S.B. 662), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 838 (S.B. 202), Sec. 1.040, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960 (S.B. 2017), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2023. SUBCHAPTER B. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER