WI SB860

Expands the definition of audiology practice to include diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory/vestibular conditions, as well as prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, and externally fitting hearing aids, sound processors, cochlear implants, and osseo-integrated devices

Authorizes audiologists to conduct health screenings, remove non-impacted cerumen and foreign bodies from ear canals, order cultures/blood work/genetic testing/radiographic imaging for auditory conditions, and order prescription medications for external ear conditions

Excludes from audiology practice any surgery involving cutting, burning, or permanently altering tissue, as well as osseo-integrated device surgery, cochlear implant surgery, and radiographic imaging interpretation

Eliminates the requirement for audiologist license applicants to pass a practical examination on hearing aid fitting techniques

Reduces the Hearing and Speech Examining Board from 10 to 9 members by decreasing licensed hearing instrument specialist positions from 3 to 2, and expands public member eligibility to include osseo-integrated device users or cochlear implant users in addition to hearing aid users