Colorado § 12-305-104 - Definitions.

§ 12-305-104. Definitions.

As used in this article 305, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Administrative unit" has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103 (1).

(1.3) "Certificate holder" means a speech-language pathologist certified pursuant to section 12-305-107.

(1.4) "Certified" means certified by the director pursuant to this article 305.

(1.5) "Direction and supervision" means, with respect to a speech-language pathology assistant, direction and supervision by a supervising speech-language pathologist in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 12-305-111.5.

(2) "School speech-language pathologist" means an individual licensed by the department of education to provide speech-language pathology services that are paid for by an administrative unit or a state-operated program.

(2.5) "School speech-language pathology assistant" means an individual authorized by the department of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-111 (10) to assist a school speech-language pathologist in providing speech-language pathology services that are paid for by an administrative unit or a state-operated program.

(3) "Speech-language pathologist" means an individual who is certified to practice speech-language pathology pursuant to section 12-305-107 (1).

(4) (a) "Speech-language pathology" means the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to the development, disorders, and effectiveness of human communication and related functions, which includes providing prevention, screening, consultation, assessment or evaluation, treatment, intervention, management, counseling, collaboration, and referral services for disorders of:

(I) Speech, such as speech sound production, fluency, resonance, and voice;

(II) Language, such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatic and social communication skills, and literacy skills;

(III) Feeding and swallowing; and

(IV) Cognitive aspects of communication, such as attention, memory, executive functioning, and problem solving.

(b) "Speech-language pathology" also includes establishing augmentative and alternative communication techniques and strategies, including the following:

(I) Developing, selecting, and prescribing augmentative or alternative communication systems and devices, such as speech generating devices;

(II) Providing services to individuals with hearing loss and their families, such as auditory training, speech reading, or speech and language intervention secondary to hearing loss;

(III) Screening individuals for hearing loss or middle ear pathology using conventional pure-tone air conduction methods, including otoscopic inspection, otoacoustic emissions, or screening tympanometry;

(IV) Using instrumentation such as videofluroscopy, endoscopy, or stroboscopy to observe, collect data, and measure parameters of communication and swallowing;

(V) Selecting, fitting, and establishing effective use of prosthetic or adaptive devices for communication, swallowing, or other upper aerodigestive functions, not including sensory devices used by individuals with hearing loss or the orthodontic movement of teeth for the purpose of correction of speech pathology conditions; and

(VI) Providing services to modify or enhance communication performance, such as accent modification and personal or professional communication efficacy.

(4.5) "Speech-language pathology assistant" means an individual who:

(a) Has successfully completed:

(I) A bachelor's or higher degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and speech sciences, or any other field that includes at least twenty-four semester hours in speech-language hearing sciences, granted by an accredited institution of higher education or its equivalent;

(II) A speech-language pathology assistant program; and

(III) A supervised clinical practicum totaling at least one hundred direct hours under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist; and

(b) Assists in the practice of speech-language pathology under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist pursuant to section 12-305-111.5.

(5) "State-operated program" has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103 (28).

(6) "Supervising speech-language pathologist" or "supervisor" means a speech-language pathologist who is responsible for the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant pursuant to section 12-305-111.5.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1592, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2025: (1.3), (1.4), (1.5), (2.5), (4.5), and (6) added and (2) and (3) amended, (HB 25-1075), ch. 163, p. 657, § 2, effective August 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43.7-103 as it existed prior to 2019.