Summary: The Audiology Practice Standards Organization (APSO) is seeking subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop, verify, and review various audiology standards.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Roles and Responsibilities: SMEs can serve in development, verification, or review groups, each with specific duties and time commitments ranging from initial drafting to reviewing and updating standards.
  2. Current and Upcoming Standards: APSO is looking for experts for upcoming standards in infection control, tinnitus care, and hearing aid evaluation, as well as verification of standards in pediatric diagnostic hearing evaluation and cerumen management.
  3. Application Deadlines: Interested SMEs should respond by contacting APSO Executive Director John A. Coverstone.

The Audiology Practice Standards Organization (APSO) is currently seeking subject matter experts (SMEs) for two audiology standards currently in progress as well as three planned for future development. 

Experts are welcomed from across the profession of audiology, regardless of affiliation, membership, or certification status with any organization, including APSO, according to the organization.

APSO SMEs serve in one of three groups for each standard: a development group, a verification group, or a review group. 

What is a Development Group? 

SMEs working in this group create standards from initial draft. SMEs are typically a collaboration of research and clinical audiologists who write the standard and gather supporting evidence for concepts recommended for inclusion in the standard. Commitments are typically 6-8 evening meetings and some offline work between meetings. 

We are seeking SMEs to form development groups for the following upcoming standards, scheduled to begin in Fall 2024: 

·  S4.2 Infection Control

·  S5.1 Tinnitus Care

·  S3.3 Hearing Aid Evaluation

APSO says SMEs should respond by Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 if interested. 

What is a Verification Group? 

SMEs working in this group review and edit the standard created by either a development or review group and prepare the standard for public review and comment. Commitments are typically 2-4 evening meetings.

We are seeking SMEs to form verification groups for the following standards currently in-progress: 

·  S3.2 Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation for Pediatric Patients

·  S4.1 Cerumen Management

APSO says SMEs should respond by Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 if interested. 

What is a Review Group? 

SMEs working in this group review previously published standards. In our commitment to developing standards which are relevant, evidence-based, and current, all APSO standards are reviewed every five years (or sooner, if deemed necessary by SMEs or the APSO board). Anticipated commitments are 1-5 evening meetings.

APSO is proud to announce and celebrate the first 5-year review of an audiology standard! We are seeking SMEs to form a review group to determine whether updates are necessary for the following standard: 

·  S1.1 General Audiology Intake Standard

APSO says SMEs should respond by Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 if interested.

All inquiries and letters of interest should be sent to APSO Executive Director John A Coverstone at [email protected].

Further reading: APSO Releases Latest Hearing Aid Fitting Standard

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