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BILL TO LEGALIZE MAIL
ORDER HEARING AIDS FAILS IN FLORIDA
Fred Rahe, Au.D., Vice President Professional Issues
An amendment was introduced in the
last days of the 2008 Florida legislative session that would have
legalized mail order sale of certain types of hearing aids. While
first appearing innocuous enough as legislation to allow for the
sale of hunters’ amplifiers, shooter’s compression and other
assistive hearing devices, it became clear that it was a veiled
attempt to allow for the sale of mail order and over the counter
hearing aids. Fortunately, the amendment was not passed.
The amendment was introduced at the
request of several manufacturers of mail order hearing aids. The
word is that they are already planning on filing the legislation
again next year, and have a team of lobbyists lined up to promote
the change. We will be monitoring this closely. The legislation as
introduced was as follows:
Notwithstanding any provision of law,
"hearing aid" does not include and specifically excludes frequency
specific enhancement devices used by sportsmen, hunting deafening
devices, ear plugs, and other assistive listening devices of 30
decibels or less, which are not specifically and individually
fitted for a hearing impaired person. |
