New Year Brings New Legislation to Modernize State Audiology Practice Acts
As the 2026 legislative session begins, two pieces of legislation have been introduced in statehouses that promise to modernize state audiology practice acts and enhance patient access to high-quality hearing and balance care.
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 820 (WI AB 820) and Kentucky House Bill 444 (HB 444) seek comprehensive revisions to those states’ audiology practice acts to appropriately include the evaluation, diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory and vestibular conditions.
ADA stands in strong support of both bills, which will improve patient access to critical audiologic services and speed time to treatment. These efforts align with the ADA’s Audiology 2050 initiative — a forward-looking roadmap to modernize scope of practice laws, empower audiologists to practice at the top of their education and training, and solidify audiology’s role as a primary care point for auditory and vestibular health. Learn more about the initiative. ADA applauds state leadership for prioritizing policies that reflect the evolving clinical role of audiology as a clinical doctoring profession, and looks forward to continued progress throughout the 2026 legislative session.
WAA Votes to Support the US “Auracast and Telecoil” Declaration - December 16, 2024
Assistive Listening Systems are mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to give people with hearing loss clarity to hearing in large areas that is impossible to receive with hearing instruments alone. There are multiple challenges for users to access assistive listening systems. The Declaration lists five areas with specific actions to be taken.
Information and documents can be found on the Center for Hearing Access Declaration webpage
Improving awareness of congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV)
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a leading cause of hearing loss and neurological disabilities in children. This initiative is a first step to raising awareness. WAA advocates for newborn screening for cCMV.
SENATE BILL 373 - February 27, 2024
Update of Wisconsin state statutes to align with Federal rules regarding OTC hearing aids. No license is required to dispense OTC hearing aids.
Wisconsin Act 82 – December 7, 2023
WAA opposed this legislation which allows Hearing Instrument Specialists to remove cerumen after taking a 6-week course and obtaining a certificate from DSPS. We had grave concerns about patient safety.