“Board” - The Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

“Certified Speech-Language Pathology Assistant” - A person who is certified under this part to perform speech pathology services under the direct supervision of a speech pathologist.

“Department” - The Department of Health.

“Direct Supervision” - Responsible supervision and control by a licensed speech-language pathologist who shall assume legal liability for the services rendered by any certified speech-language pathology assistant under the licensee’s supervision, or responsible supervision and control by a licensed audiologist who shall assume legal liability for the services rendered by any certified audiology assistant under the licensee’s supervision. Direct supervision shall require the physical presence of the licensed speech-language pathologist for consultation and direction of the actions of the certified speech-language pathology assistant, or the physical presence of the licensed audiologist for consultation and direction of the actions of the certified audiology assistant, unless the assistant is acting under protocols established by the board. The board shall establish rules further defining direct supervision of a certified speech-language pathology assistant or a certified audiology assistant.

“Disorders” - Any and all conditions, whether of organic or nonorganic origin, that impede the normal process of human communication, including, but not limited to, disorders and related disorders of speech, phonology, articulation, fluency, voice, accent, verbal and written language and related nonoral/nonverbal forms of language, cognitive communication, auditory and visual processing, memory and comprehension, interactive communication, mastication, deglutition, and other oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal sensorimotor competencies.

“Practice of Speech-Language Pathology” - The application of principles, methods, and procedures for the prevention, identification, evaluation, treatment, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, instruction, and research, relative to the development and disorders of human communication; to related oral and pharyngeal competencies; and to behavior related to disorders of human communication.

“Speech-Language Pathologist” - A person licensed under this part to practice speech pathology.

Reference

Fla. Stat. § 468.1125