KY HB444

Expands the statutory definition of "practice of audiology" to include evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and treating auditory or vestibular conditions, as well as prescribing, selling, and fitting hearing aids, osseo-integrated devices, and cochlear implant sound processors

Authorizes audiologists to perform additional clinical services including health screenings, removing non-impacted foreign bodies and cerumen from the ear canal, ordering cultures and bloodwork, ordering and performing non-radiographic ear canal imaging, ordering radiographic imaging, and prescribing topical otologic pharmaceutical agents

Explicitly excludes from audiology practice: surgery using instruments that permanently alter tissue, osseo-integrated device surgery, cochlear implant surgery, radiographic imagery preparation/operation, and independent diagnosis or treatment of suspected ear malignancies (which must be referred to a physician)

Adds new statutory definition for "sound processor" as a nonsurgical, external unit that attaches to an internal osseo-integrated device or cochlear implant

Amends KRS 334A.020 governing the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology's regulatory framework