Our Mission

Our Goals

Code of Ethics

 By-laws

The mission of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology

The Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology represents the "Voice of Audiology" within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Academy is the only state organization that is truly dedicated to meet the need of audiologists. The academy was started in 1991 by ten audiologists from all parts of the Commonwealth and now has a membership of over 200 audiologists.

The Academy is a professional organization of university-trained audiologists practicing in a variety of settings within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and adjacent states. PAA audiologists are dedicated to serving all people with hearing problems. The Academy promotes the profession of audiology as an autonomous profession to serve the hearing health care needs of all people. Further, the Academy fosters the ability of our members to achieve their career and professional objectives, provides quality continuing educational experiences, promotes public and consumer awareness of hearing problems and solutions to improve hearing, and advocates for the profession of audiology to regulatory agencies and legislatures in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

The Goals of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology

• To improve and promote the evaluation and professional services provided to all people with hearing impairment.
• To improve and promote public and consumer awareness of hearing disorders, their prevention, and their solutions.
• To advocate the rights and protection of all consumers who seek audiological services and hearing health care products to improve their hearing.
• To provide leadership for upgrading professional standards by offering quality continuing education and by advocating the profession of audiology to regulatory and legislative bodies.
• To advocate that audiologists are the primary providers of hearing health care.

PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF AUDIOLOGY CODE OF ETHICS

Adopted 1992 

PREAMBLE

The Code of Ethics of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology specifies professional standards that allow for the proper discharge of audiologists' responsibilities to those served and that protect the integrity of the profession. A Statement of Principles and Rules presents precepts that all members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology agree to uphold. The Principles and Rules are as follows:

PRINCIPLE 1: Members shall provide professional services with honesty and compassion, and shall respect the dignity, worth, and rights of those served. Rule la: Individuals shall not limit the delivery of professional services on any basis that is unjustifiable or irrelevant to the need for the potential benefit from such services.

PRINCIPLE 2: Members shall maintain high standards of professional competence in rendering services, providing only those professional services for which they are qualified by education and experience.

Rule 2a: Individuals shall use available resources, including referrals to other specialists, and shall not accept benefits or items of personal value for receiving or making referrals.

Rule 2b: Individuals shall exercise all reasonable precautions to avoid injury to persons in the delivery of professional services.

Rule 2c: Individuals shall not provide services except in a professional relationship, and shall not discriminate in the provision of services to individuals on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or general health.

Rule 2d: Individuals shall provide appropriate supervision and assume full responsibility for services delegated to supportive personnel. Individuals shall not delegate any service requiring professional competence to unqualified persons.

Rule 2e: Individuals shall not permit personnel to engage in any practice that is a violation of the Code of Ethics.

Rule 2f: Individuals shall maintain professional competence, including participation in continuing education.

PRINCIPLE 3: Members shall maintain the confidentiality of the information and records of those receiving services.

Rule 3a: Individuals shall not reveal to unauthorized persons any professional or personal information obtained from the person served professionally, unless required by law.

PRINCIPLE 4: Members shall provide only services and products that are in the best interest of those served.

Rule 4a: Individuals shall not exploit persons in the delivery of professional services.

Rule 4b: Individuals shall not charge for services not rendered.

Rule 4c: Individuals shall not participate in activities that constitute a conflict of professional interest.

Rule 4d: Individuals shall not accept compensation for supervision or sponsorship beyond reimbursement of expenses.

PRINCIPLE 5: Members shall provide accurate information about the nature and management of communicative disorders and about the services and products offered.

Rule 5a: Individuals shall provide persons served with the information a reasonable person would want to know about the nature and possible effects of services rendered or products provided.

Rule 5b: Individuals may make a statement of prognosis, but shall not guarantee results, mislead, or misinform persons served.

Rule 5c: Individuals shall not carry out teaching or research activities in a manner that constitutes an invasion of privacy, or that fails to inform persons fully about the nature and possible effects of those activities, affording all persons informed free choice of participation.

Rule 5d: Individuals shall maintain documentation of professional services rendered.

PRINCIPLE 6: Members shall comply with the ethical standards of the Academy with regard to public statements.

Rule 6a: Individuals shall not misrepresent their educational degrees, training, credentials, or competence. Only degrees earned from regionally accredited institutions An which training was obtained in audiology, or a directly related discipline, may be used in public statements concerning professional services.

Rule 6b: Individuals' public statements about professional services and products shall not containing representations or claims that they are false, misleading, or deceptive.

PRINCIPLE 7: Members shall honor their responsibilities to the public and to professional colleagues.

Rule 7a: Individuals shall not use professional or commercial affiliations in any way that would mislead or limit services to persons served professionally.

Rule 7b: Individuals shall inform colleagues and the public in a manner consistent with the highest professional standards about products and services they have developed.

PRINCIPLE 8: Members shall uphold the dignity of the profession and freely accept the Academy's self-imposed standards.

Rule 8a: Individuals shall not violate these Principles and Rules, nor attempt to circumvent them.

Rule 8b: Individuals shall not engage in dishonesty or illegal conduct that adversely reflects on the profession.

Rule 8c: Individuals shall inform the Board of Directors when there are reasons to believe that a member of the Academy may have violated the Code of Ethics.

Rule 8d: Individuals shall cooperate with the Board of Directors in any matter related to the Code of Ethics.