Updated Academy Code of Ethics

Over the last year, the Ethical Practices Committee (EPC) conducted a comprehensive review of the Code of Ethics. The EPC received the initial request from the Academy board to review the code and consider if any changes might be needed in consideration of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids entering the market. The board asked that the committee specifically consider if anything in the current code would preclude an audiologist from selling and working with OTC hearing aid devices. Once the committee began the review, the committee recognized the need for a more thorough review of the document. 

The committee proposed edits that provide better clarity, are relevant to current practice, and modify language for congruence with other resources within the Academy. The committee considered on several occasions in the review process if any additional language is needed about the audiologist’s responsibility relative to OTC devices and identified a slight edit for two principles. The EPC also sought to include members’ use of social media within the scope of the code.

Updated April 2023