Standards of Practice for Audiology

The mission of the American Academy of Audiology is to promote quality hearing and balance care by advancing the profession of audiology through leadership, advocacy, education, public awareness, and support of research. To serve this mission, this document was developed to provide professionals and consumers, with the clinical practice and professional behavior expectations of audiologists. Additional guidance can be found in the American Academy of Audiology’s Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, position statements, clinical practice guidelines, and core values statements.

The Standards of Practice for Audiology are developed, and periodically updated, by the Academy to define acceptable standards of practice for professional services consistent with the Academy’s Scope of Practice. These standards reflect the values, priorities, and current state of the audiology profession. The core principle underlying these standards is that audiologists evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat hearing and balance disorders for a diverse population across the life span through the practice of culturally sensitive patient- and family-centered care and continually evaluate and improve care through assessment of outcomes. These standards assume respect for the patient’s rights and privacy as defined by  local, state, and federal laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).