West Lafayette, IN - A successful settlement has been reached in the litigation between AFA and ASHA over the use of the Doctor of Audiology and Au.D. designations. The settlement allows audiology to move ahead in its transition to the Au.D. as the profession's entry level common degree designator.
The AFA's two-track transition program for practitioners, established in 1995, advocated both the Au.D. credential and the Au.D. distance education degree from accredited academic institutions. The AFA now believes that there are sufficient distance education Au.D. degree opportunities available to practitioners for AFA to cease offering the credential. Therefore, the Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) has voluntarily and permanently ceased issuing the Doctor of Audiology or Au.D. credential.
Based on AFA's decision to cease issuing the credential, AFA's attorneys moved to dismiss as moot the lawsuit filed in July of 1998 by ASHA against AFA. The two organizations then followed the Judge's suggestion that they negotiate a settlement out of court. AFA encourages all credential holders to pursue a distance education Au.D. degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning and will not hereafter advocate or promote the public display of the Au.D. certificate, or the use of the designations Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, Dr., or Doctor in connection with the practice of audiology, unless the practitioner has the degree or practical difficulties prevent immediate discontinuation of the use of the credential.
ASHA agreed to reaffirm its continuing support for the transition of audiology to a doctoral level profession and for the Au.D. degree when conferred by a regionally accredited institution, as well as its continuing support for the use of distance learning mechanisms and the granting of reasonable academic credit for demonstrated competencies by Au.D. programs. ASHA will support use of the degree and titles Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, Dr., or Doctor by those who have obtained degrees from regionally accredited institutions, and expresses its appreciation to those who are working toward the establishment of Au.D. Programs.
Amnesty by ASHA for prior use of the credential has been negotiated. ASHA's Board of Ethics will forego any disciplinary action arising from the use of AFA's Au.D. credential before the date of the agreement or which is consistent with the agreement. As noted above, the agreement recognizes that practical difficulties may prevent discontinuation of the use of the credential before the degree is obtained. AFA does not control the conduct of its credential holders and is not required by the agreement to attempt to do so.
Distance Education Programs offer Opportunity
According to AFA's Chair, George S. Osborne, Ph.D., ''We are very encouraged that now five accredited Au.D. programs offer distance opportunities to practicing audiologists to obtain the Au.D. degree. The Au.D. programs offer audiologists a variety of distance education choices.''
''The AFA is pleased that distance education programs have evolved over time and become more user-friendly. The newer programs offer even more latitude to working professionals to complete their education without leaving their practices. The AFA has worked to develop options for audiologists that are accessible, affordable, and offer credit for assessed capabilities. Because of these developments, there is no longer any reason why most audiologists cannot now earn the Au.D. degree,'' stated AFA Vice Chair Ken Lowder, M.A.
AuD Litigation Settled Favorably
Share:
