Members of the International Hearing Society (IHS) are to abide by the Code of Ethics as stated herein. These principles of professional conduct are intended to provide the best service for the hearing impaired and to guide hearing health professionals in their relations with each other and the public in general.
This is a Code of Ethics for those engaged in the testing of human hearing and in the selection, counseling, fitting, dispensing, and servicing of hearing instruments. This Code sets standards of professional integrity and practice including relationships with patients, colleagues, and the general public.
Ethical principles are standards by which the profession and the individual IHS member determine the propriety of their conduct. Adherence to these standards is required for membership in IHS, and further serves to assure public confidence in the integrity of the services of IHS members in this profession. IHS verifies the competence of its members through a qualification program and mandatory continuing education. It is incumbent on all hearing health professionals to abide by all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the dispensing of hearing instruments.
The basic principle is an accepted Code of Ethical Conduct for IHS members.
In order that we can best serve hearing impaired persons and contribute toward their participation in the world of sound and speech, we, the members of IHS, pledge ourselves to abide by this Code of Ethics:
a. We shall state only the true facts in our public announcements and advertising of hearing instruments and related products and we shall not, in any way, mislead or misrepresent in regard to their performance, appearance, benefits, elements, and use.
b. We shall provide thorough and ethical consulting services when we dispense instruments, including the appropriate testing and fitting suitable for the patient's particular type of hearing loss.
c. We shall, at all times, provide the best possible service to the hearing impaired, offering counsel, understanding, and technical assistance contributing toward their deriving the maximum benefit from their hearing instruments.
d. We shall constantly encourage and support research, cooperating with medical and other hearing health professionals and societies to employ the maximum accumulation of scientific knowledge and technical skills in the testing of human hearing for the selection, fitting, and maintenance of hearing instruments.
The IHS member engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and in the selection, counseling, fitting, dispensing, and servicing of hearing instruments, shall hold paramount the welfare of the patient.
The IHS member has the duty to observe all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the dispensing of hearing instruments; to uphold the dignity and honor of the profession; and to accept its ethical principles. He/she shall not engage in any activity that will bring discredit to the profession and shall expose, without fear or favor, illegal or unethical conduct in the profession.
a. In the event it appears that an IHS member is in violation of this Code, fellow IHS members are encouraged to report circumstances to IHS.
b. The IHS member shall not pursue any course of action that may be harmful or detrimental to the Society, its members, or the public we serve.
c. The IHS member holding an official or elective position in IHS or an affiliate chapter shall not use such a position for self-aggrandizement.
d. The IHS member who has served on an exam-writing committee or who has knowledge of the contents of the exam shall not be involved with or hold a pre-test class or review course to prepare exam candidates(s) for the exam for a period of not less than five (5) years following their involvement with the exam committee.
The IHS member who chooses to advertise his/her services shall use only material considered ethical and complying with laws, rules, and regulations governing advertising. The IHS member shall endorse the following statements of principle that assure protection of the hearing impaired and the public in general.
Maintenance of high standards by all IHS members is in the best interest of persons served professionally, the IHS member, and the profession.
a. It shall be unethical for the IHS member to willfully and knowingly violate any law, rule, or regulation applicable to the dispensing of hearing instruments.
b. It shall be unethical to use such terms or any abbreviation of such terms as doctor, physician, otologist, board certified in hearing instrument sciences, audioprosthologist, clinical audiologist, medical audiologist, research audiologist, industrial audiologist, or any other title/abbreviation when such is not the fact. When holding a doctorate or other degree from a profession other than hearing sciences, delineation of such credential shall be required. (Special Note: The title Hearing Instrument Specialist is trademarked to the International Hearing Society and authorization for its use outside the membership must come from the IHS Executive Director.)
c. It shall be unethical to use any symbol or depiction which connotes the medical profession.
d. It shall be unethical to use any terms that may reasonably be said to confuse the public that a private business practice has some relationship to a governmental or nonprofit medical, educational, or research institution.
The IHS member shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional service on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, age, or marital status.
The IHS member is encouraged to associate with groups and organizations having as their objectives the betterment of the profession.
All members of IHS pledge themselves to observe and support this Code of Ethics. By violating any part, a member of IHS is subject to removal from membership in IHS. This Code is interpreted by the Ethics Committee and enforced by the Grievance Committee of IHS. Upon violation of this Code, the Grievance Committee may discipline members after investigation and hearing.
This Code of Ethics was adopted in 10/83 - Revised 10/96, 10/98, 05/03, 04/07, 03/09
