20
Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers
A hearing aid dispenser should advise a prospective
hearing aid user to consult promptly with a licensed
physician (preferably an ear specialist) before dispensing
a hearing aid if the hearing aid dispenser determines
through inquiry, actual observation, or review of any
other available information concerning the prospective
user, that the prospective user has any of the following
conditions: (i) Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of
the ear. (ii) History of active drainage from the ear within
the previous 90 days. (iii) History of sudden or rapidly
progressive hearing loss within the previous 90 days. (iv)
Acute or chronic dizziness. (v) Unilateral hearing loss of
sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days. (vi)
Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15
decibels at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz. (vii)
Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a
foreign body in the ear canal. (viii) Pain or discomfort in
the ear. Special care should be exercised in selecting and
fitting a hearing aid whose maximum sound pressure
level exceeds 132 decibels because there may be risk of
impairing the remaining hearing of the hearing aid user.
[This provision is required only for those hearing aids
with a maximum sound pressure capability greater than
132 decibels (dB).]
