Illinois § 4.5

§ 4.5.

Hearing aids dispensed by prescription to persons age 17 or younger. (a) A hearing instrument professional may dispense a hearing aid to a person age 17 or younger in accordance with the requirements of this Section. (b) A hearing instrument professional shall not sell a prescription hearing aid to anyone age 17 or younger unless the prospective user has presented to the hearing instrument professional a written statement, signed by a licensed physician, that states that the patient's hearing loss has been medically evaluated and the patient is considered a candidate for a hearing aid. The medical evaluation must have been performed within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of the sale of the hearing aid to the prospective hearing aid user. (c) A person age 17 or younger must be medically evaluated in person by a physician before receiving a prescription for a hearing aid. The evaluation must have been performed within the 6 months immediately preceding the date that the hearing aid is dispensed. (d) Following a medical evaluation by a licensed physician, a licensed audiologist or a licensed physician other than the evaluating physician may prescribe a prescription hearing aid for an individual age 17 or younger. A person age 17 or younger may not waive the medical evaluation or receipt of a prescription from a licensed audiologist or a licensed physician unless the person is replacing a lost or stolen hearing aid that is subject to warranty replacement. (e) A hearing aid prescription for individuals age 17 or younger issued by a licensed audiologist or a licensed physician other than the evaluating physician must include, at a minimum, the following information: (1) name of the patient; (2) documentation of medical evaluation by a physician; (3) date the prescription is issued; (4) expiration date of the prescription, which may not exceed 6 months from the date of issuance; (5) name and license number of the prescribing licensed audiologist or licensed physician; (6) results of the following assessments: (i) age-appropriate pure-tone air conduction audiometry or results of auditory evoked potential testing, including, but not limited to, auditory brainstem response or otoacoustic emissions testing; (ii) bone conduction testing, as age appropriate; and (iii) recorded or live voice speech in quiet, as age appropriate; (7) documentation of type and style of hearing aid; and (8) documentation of medical necessity of the recommended features of a hearing aid. (Source: P.A. 103-495, eff. 1-1-24.)