Free PASC Practice Questions

Question 1

A 4-month-old has no reproducible neural auditory brainstem response (ABR) to high-level clicks in either ear. In each ear, a polarity-reversing response disappears when the insert-earphone tubing is clamped while the electrical stimulus continues. Middle-ear measures are normal, and acoustic reflexes are absent. Behavioral thresholds are not yet available. Which interpretation should guide counseling?

Accepted Answer

The findings support auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, but behavioral hearing-loss severity remains undetermined.

Answer

The absent neural responses establish profound cochlear loss and justify amplification based on the maximum test level.

Answer

The polarity-reversing response establishes near-normal hearing sensitivity despite delayed brainstem maturation.

Answer

The polarity-reversing response is electrical artifact rather than evidence of preserved cochlear receptor activity.

Question 2

After fitting a new earmold to a 7-month-old, the audiologist measures a real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) of +13 dB at 2000 Hz. For a 65-dB-SPL speech input, hearing-aid output in the corresponding 2-cc coupler is 85 dB SPL; the prescribed real-ear target is 92 dB SPL. The measurements use appropriately matched coupling. Which estimate and adjustment are indicated at 2000 Hz?

Accepted Answer

Estimated real-ear output is 98 dB SPL; reduce output by about 6 dB and reverify.

Answer

Estimated real-ear output is 85 dB SPL; increase output by 7 dB and reverify.

Answer

Estimated real-ear output is 72 dB SPL; increase output by 20 dB and reverify.

Answer

Estimated real-ear output is 92 dB SPL; retain the settings because the prescribed target is met.

Question 3

"Would stronger hearing aids help?" asks the parent of a 3-year-old with stable moderate bilateral hearing loss and slow speech progress. Verification shows target-matched output, but data logging averages 2.5 hours daily. The grandmother provides daytime care; she has never practiced inserting the comfortable earmolds and fears hurting the child. What should the audiologist address first?

Accepted Answer

Practice insertion and daily checks with the grandmother, then agree on a workable wearing routine.

Answer

Increase gain for conversational speech to compensate for the short daily wearing time.

Answer

Request a cochlear implant evaluation for slow speech progress despite target-matched hearing aids.

Answer

Increase clinic-based auditory training before revisiting the family's hearing-aid routine.

Question 4

Serial monitoring during cisplatin treatment in a 9-year-old shows the following at both 6000 and 8000 Hz: pretreatment, -5 dB HL; current, 10 dB HL; repeat the next day, 10 dB HL. Other thresholds and middle-ear measures are unchanged, and the child reports no hearing difficulty. Which response applies ASHA's ototoxicity-monitoring criteria correctly?

Accepted Answer

Notify oncology of a confirmed significant threshold shift and coordinate continued audiologic monitoring.

Answer

Report no significant change because the current thresholds remain within the pediatric normal-hearing range.

Answer

Advise withholding the next cisplatin dose until the high-frequency thresholds return to baseline.

Answer

Wait for a change at a speech frequency before reporting the result as a treatment-related hearing concern.

Question 5

Discharge records for a 3-month-old document a 12-day neonatal intensive care unit stay and a bilateral pass on automated ABR screening. No other risk factors or caregiver concerns are identified. Which follow-up plan meets JCIH 2019 recommendations for this history?

Accepted Answer

Complete comprehensive audiologic assessment by 9 months, with ongoing developmental surveillance.

Answer

Continue developmental surveillance, with audiologic referral only if a new concern arises.

Answer

Obtain an OAE-only rescreen by 9 months and end audiologic follow-up if both ears pass.

Answer

Schedule the first comprehensive assessment after 12 months to allow reliable behavioral testing to develop.

Question 6

An 11-year-old with unilateral hearing loss earns high grades but misses peer contributions in group work and reports marked listening fatigue. A school evaluation finds a substantial limitation in hearing-related access and a need for classroom supports, but no need for specially designed instruction. Which recommendation follows from these findings?

Accepted Answer

Provide individualized Section 504 access supports, even though academic achievement remains high.

Answer

Establish an IDEA individualized education program because permanent hearing loss requires special education.

Answer

Use informal teacher accommodations until a measurable decline in academic achievement develops.

Answer

Limit formal support to seating changes because assistive listening technology requires an IEP.

Question 7

Two attempts at conditioned play audiometry have been unsuccessful for a 4-year-old whose developmental skills are approximately at the 12-month level. Today, the child tolerates insert earphones and reliably learns a sound-contingent head turn toward a visual reward. Vision and head control are adequate. How should threshold assessment proceed?

Accepted Answer

Use visual reinforcement audiometry with inserts to obtain ear-specific, frequency-specific behavioral responses.

Answer

Resume play audiometry with the caregiver guiding the child's hand for each response.

Answer

Arrange sedated ABR before making another attempt at behavioral threshold testing.

Answer

Use conventional button-press audiometry, the method usually expected for children of this chronological age.

Question 8

An implant referral is being considered for a 7-year-old with unequal hearing-aid benefit. Three-frequency pure-tone averages are 65 dB HL right and 55 dB HL left. Aided word recognition is reproducibly 36% right and 84% left using recorded, age-appropriate material with the opposite ear excluded. Hearing aids meet targets and are worn throughout the waking day. Right-ear functional benefit remains poor. What is the most appropriate recommendation?

Accepted Answer

Refer for ear-specific cochlear implant candidacy evaluation while maintaining current auditory access.

Answer

Increase right-ear gain above the verified targets before considering an implant referral.

Answer

Wait until the right-ear pure-tone average exceeds 90 dB HL before assessing implant candidacy.

Answer

Base eligibility on the better ear and defer referral because left-ear aided word recognition is good.

Question 9

A teenager's calibrated listening log records 6 hours at 81 dBA, with another 10 hours planned at 78 dBA this week. The family considers 16 total hours reassuring. Using the WHO-ITU sensitive-user allowance of 75 dBA for 40 hours per week and a 3-dB exchange rate, how should the audiologist assess this plan?

Accepted Answer

The combined dose is 110%; reduce the planned level or duration to stay within the allowance.

Answer

The combined dose is 40%; both listening blocks fit within the weekly allowance.

Answer

The combined dose is 80%; there is room for another 4 hours at 78 dBA.

Answer

The combined dose is 160%; restrict the 78-dBA block to 4 hours.

Question 10

During a cochlear implant follow-up, the parent of a 6-year-old with congenital profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss describes two brief episodes of loss of consciousness: one during running and another immediately after a sudden loud alarm. The child is now alert and comfortable. The parent wonders whether a balance disorder explains the episodes. What takes priority over routine implant or vestibular testing?

Accepted Answer

Arrange urgent medical evaluation with an ECG for a possible inherited arrhythmia.

Answer

Start vestibular testing for hearing-loss-associated balance dysfunction.

Answer

Seek a seizure workup before considering a cardiac cause for the episodes.

Answer

Complete implant testing and arrange routine follow-up for vasovagal syncope.

Free PASC Practice Questions

Domain 1: ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF AUDITORY AND VESTIBULAR DISORDERS 24% of exam

Question 1

Question 2

Domain 2: HABILITATION/REHABILITATION 21% of exam

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 3: CASE MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING 22% of exam

Question 5

Question 6

Domain 4: MEDICAL AUDIOLOGY 16% of exam

Question 7

Question 8

Domain 5: PROFESSIONAL AND REGULATORY ISSUES 9% of exam

Question 9

Domain 6: EDUCATIONAL AUDIOLOGY 8% of exam

Question 10

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