In accordance with the Act, a licensed audiologist or licensed intern in audiology who fits and dispenses hearing instruments, shall comply with this section when testing hearing for the purpose of determining the need for amplification and the verification of the appropriate fit of hearing instrument(s).
  (1) Licensees must adhere to the most current American National Standards Institute (ANSI) octave band criteria for permissible ambient noise levels during audiometric testing.
  (2) This requirement is best met when a stationary acoustical enclosure is utilized.
  (3) A stationary acoustical enclosure is any fixed enclosed space in which an individual is located for the purpose of testing hearing to threshold. A stationary acoustical enclosure may also be known as an audiometric or hearing test booth, room, suite, area, or space.
  (4) Procedures referenced in Texas Occupations Code §401.401, should be followed when testing outside of a stationary acoustical enclosure.
    (A) Hearing testing that occurs in an area that does not meet the standard of a stationary acoustical enclosure for the purpose of determining the need for amplification is not considered a diagnostic or threshold measurement.
    (B) In the event amplification is fit and verification measures cannot be completed in a stationary acoustical enclosure, instrumentation that is minimally affected by ambient noise including but not limited to, real ear measures, shall be utilized to assure the appropriate fit of the amplification.

Source Note: The provisions of this §111.202 adopted to be effective October 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 4441