ASHA SLPA CERTIFICATION EXAM: STUDY GUIDE
PART 2 EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
1. A 4-year-old child is referred for a speech evaluation due to unintelligible
speech. The SLP determines the child has a phonological disorder characterized by
the deletion of final consonants. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
initial goal for the SLPA to target in therapy sessions?
A. Increase the child's mean length of utterance (MLU).
B. Improve auditory discrimination of minimal pairs differing in final consonants.
C. Practice producing multisyllabic words.
D. Focus on increasing the child's receptive vocabulary.
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: Auditory discrimination is a foundational skill for phonological awareness.
Before a child can produce final consonants, they must be able to hear the difference
between words that do and do not have them (e.g., "bee" vs. "beep"). This is a critical first
step in the treatment hierarchy.
2. During a therapy session, a 7-year-old client becomes frustrated and throws
their communication board on the floor. What is the SLPA's FIRST course of
action?
A. End the session immediately and report the behavior to the SLP.
B. Firmly instruct the child to pick up the board and continue with the activity.
C. Acknowledge the child's feelings, use a calm voice, and prompt them to use a coping
strategy.
D. Remove the communication board for the remainder of the session as a
consequence.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The first step in managing a behavioral outburst is to de-escalate the
situation. Acknowledging feelings and prompting a previously taught coping strategy
validates the child's emotions and teaches self-regulation, which is a key component of a
therapeutic environment.
3. A 65-year-old patient with a left-hemisphere stroke exhibits Broca's aphasia.
Which of the following language characteristics is the SLPA MOST likely to
observe?
A. Fluent, effortless speech with poor comprehension.
B. Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively good comprehension.
,C. Fluent speech that is meaningless and lacks content.
D. Difficulty repeating single words but fluent in conversation.
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: Broca's aphasia, typically resulting from damage to the left inferior frontal
gyrus, is characterized by non-fluent, effortful, and telegraphic speech. Expressive
language is impaired, but receptive language abilities are often relatively preserved
compared to expressive deficits.
4. Which of the following is an example of a pragmatic language skill?
A. Correctly producing the /s/ sound in all word positions.
B. Using a conjunction to connect two ideas in a sentence.
C. Taking turns during a conversation with a peer.
D. Naming common objects in a picture book.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Pragmatics refers to the social use of language, which includes the rules of
conversation like turn-taking, maintaining a topic, and using appropriate eye contact. This
is a core domain distinct from articulation (A), syntax (B), and semantics (D).
5. An SLPA is working with a 5-year-old client who has a diagnosis of childhood
apraxia of speech (CAS). According to best practices, which type of cueing would
be MOST beneficial to facilitate speech production?
A. Visual and tactile cues.
B. Auditory bombardment.
C. Written orthographic cues.
D. Semantic feature analysis.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: CAS is a motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning the
precise movements of the articulators. Multi-sensory cues, particularly visual (e.g.,
watching the therapist's mouth) and tactile (e.g., touching the jaw), are essential to help
the child plan and execute the correct motor sequence.
6. An SLPA is preparing materials for a group therapy session. A client with a
severe expressive language disorder uses a high-tech AAC device. What is the
SLPA's responsibility regarding this device?
A. Ensure the device is charged and functioning before the session.
B. Program new vocabulary into the device without the SLP's input.
C. Use the device as a backup for data collection only.
D. Refer all questions about the device to the manufacturer.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Ensuring that a client's AAC device is operational is a critical part of the
SLPA's clinical and ethical responsibility. A non-functional device can lead to
,communication breakdown and frustration. Programming new vocabulary is an SLP task,
and the SLPA should work in tandem with the SLP on this.
7. What is the primary purpose of conducting a hearing screening during a speech-
language evaluation?
A. To rule out hearing loss as a contributing factor to the communication disorder.
B. To determine the need for amplification.
C. To test the integrity of the auditory nerve.
D. To assess the client's ability to discriminate speech sounds.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: The main purpose of a hearing screening is to identify the presence of a
possible hearing loss that may be contributing to a speech/language or learning problem.
It is a pass/fail procedure to determine if a full audiological evaluation is warranted, not a
diagnostic test for amplification needs (B) or specific auditory pathway issues (C).
8. A 16-year-old with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is having difficulty with social
communication in the school setting. The SLP has designed a social skills group.
Which of the following activities would be MOST appropriate for the SLPA to lead?
A. Analyzing a scene from a popular teen television show to identify emotional states
and intentions.
B. Providing intensive articulation therapy for residual /r/ errors.
C. Administering a standardized test of pragmatic language skills.
D. Creating a comprehensive list of rules for all social situations.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Using media like TV shows or movies is an effective and engaging way to
teach social cognition and inference skills. It allows for a safe, structured environment to
practice identifying and discussing abstract social concepts, which is a functional approach
for a teen with TBI.
9. A 2-year-old client is diagnosed with a severe language delay. The family speaks
Spanish at home and only limited English. How should the SLPA BEST support this
client and family?
A. Instruct the family to speak only English at home to support the child's school
readiness.
B. Provide all therapy materials and home programs exclusively in English.
C. Collaborate with the SLP to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate materials
and strategies, including the use of Spanish.
D. Focus only on English vocabulary and grammar during therapy, as that is the
language of instruction.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: It is an ethical imperative to provide culturally and linguistically responsive
, services. Supporting the family's primary language (Spanish) helps build a strong
foundation for communication and development, which will positively transfer to the
second language (English). The SLP and SLPA must work as a team to meet the family's
needs.
10. When taking data during a therapy session to calculate the percentage of
correct responses, which method is the BEST representation of a client's
performance?
A. Calculating the total number of correct responses in the session.
B. Calculating the total number of incorrect responses in the session.
C. Calculating the ratio of correct responses to the total number of opportunities
provided.
D. Calculating the frequency of a target behavior over time.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The percentage of correct responses is the most objective and standard
way to track client progress, as it accounts for the number of trials given. It provides a
clear metric for comparing performance across sessions.
11. An SLPA observes a new client who speaks with a dialectal variation. The SLPA
should FIRST:
A. Immediately begin therapy to correct the dialectal difference.
B. Inform the client that their speech is incorrect.
C. Discuss with the supervising SLP the characteristics of the dialect to ensure
appropriate assessment and avoid misdiagnosis.
D. Ignore the differences and focus solely on articulatory targets.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Dialectal variations are not disorders. It is crucial for the SLPA to recognize
this and consult with the supervising SLP to ensure that the client is not inappropriately
pathologized. The SLP will then determine if a true disorder exists in addition to the
dialect.
12. A client presents with a hoarse and breathy voice quality. Which of the
following laryngeal conditions is MOST likely causing this vocal quality?
A. Vocal fold nodules.
B. Laryngitis.
C. Vocal fold paralysis.
D. Spasmodic dysphonia.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Vocal fold paralysis is characterized by the inability of one or both vocal
folds to move, resulting in a breathy and weak voice due to incomplete glottal closure.
While nodules (A) cause a breathy, hoarse quality, paralysis is a more direct cause of a
PART 2 EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
1. A 4-year-old child is referred for a speech evaluation due to unintelligible
speech. The SLP determines the child has a phonological disorder characterized by
the deletion of final consonants. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
initial goal for the SLPA to target in therapy sessions?
A. Increase the child's mean length of utterance (MLU).
B. Improve auditory discrimination of minimal pairs differing in final consonants.
C. Practice producing multisyllabic words.
D. Focus on increasing the child's receptive vocabulary.
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: Auditory discrimination is a foundational skill for phonological awareness.
Before a child can produce final consonants, they must be able to hear the difference
between words that do and do not have them (e.g., "bee" vs. "beep"). This is a critical first
step in the treatment hierarchy.
2. During a therapy session, a 7-year-old client becomes frustrated and throws
their communication board on the floor. What is the SLPA's FIRST course of
action?
A. End the session immediately and report the behavior to the SLP.
B. Firmly instruct the child to pick up the board and continue with the activity.
C. Acknowledge the child's feelings, use a calm voice, and prompt them to use a coping
strategy.
D. Remove the communication board for the remainder of the session as a
consequence.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The first step in managing a behavioral outburst is to de-escalate the
situation. Acknowledging feelings and prompting a previously taught coping strategy
validates the child's emotions and teaches self-regulation, which is a key component of a
therapeutic environment.
3. A 65-year-old patient with a left-hemisphere stroke exhibits Broca's aphasia.
Which of the following language characteristics is the SLPA MOST likely to
observe?
A. Fluent, effortless speech with poor comprehension.
B. Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively good comprehension.
,C. Fluent speech that is meaningless and lacks content.
D. Difficulty repeating single words but fluent in conversation.
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: Broca's aphasia, typically resulting from damage to the left inferior frontal
gyrus, is characterized by non-fluent, effortful, and telegraphic speech. Expressive
language is impaired, but receptive language abilities are often relatively preserved
compared to expressive deficits.
4. Which of the following is an example of a pragmatic language skill?
A. Correctly producing the /s/ sound in all word positions.
B. Using a conjunction to connect two ideas in a sentence.
C. Taking turns during a conversation with a peer.
D. Naming common objects in a picture book.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Pragmatics refers to the social use of language, which includes the rules of
conversation like turn-taking, maintaining a topic, and using appropriate eye contact. This
is a core domain distinct from articulation (A), syntax (B), and semantics (D).
5. An SLPA is working with a 5-year-old client who has a diagnosis of childhood
apraxia of speech (CAS). According to best practices, which type of cueing would
be MOST beneficial to facilitate speech production?
A. Visual and tactile cues.
B. Auditory bombardment.
C. Written orthographic cues.
D. Semantic feature analysis.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: CAS is a motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning the
precise movements of the articulators. Multi-sensory cues, particularly visual (e.g.,
watching the therapist's mouth) and tactile (e.g., touching the jaw), are essential to help
the child plan and execute the correct motor sequence.
6. An SLPA is preparing materials for a group therapy session. A client with a
severe expressive language disorder uses a high-tech AAC device. What is the
SLPA's responsibility regarding this device?
A. Ensure the device is charged and functioning before the session.
B. Program new vocabulary into the device without the SLP's input.
C. Use the device as a backup for data collection only.
D. Refer all questions about the device to the manufacturer.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Ensuring that a client's AAC device is operational is a critical part of the
SLPA's clinical and ethical responsibility. A non-functional device can lead to
,communication breakdown and frustration. Programming new vocabulary is an SLP task,
and the SLPA should work in tandem with the SLP on this.
7. What is the primary purpose of conducting a hearing screening during a speech-
language evaluation?
A. To rule out hearing loss as a contributing factor to the communication disorder.
B. To determine the need for amplification.
C. To test the integrity of the auditory nerve.
D. To assess the client's ability to discriminate speech sounds.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: The main purpose of a hearing screening is to identify the presence of a
possible hearing loss that may be contributing to a speech/language or learning problem.
It is a pass/fail procedure to determine if a full audiological evaluation is warranted, not a
diagnostic test for amplification needs (B) or specific auditory pathway issues (C).
8. A 16-year-old with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is having difficulty with social
communication in the school setting. The SLP has designed a social skills group.
Which of the following activities would be MOST appropriate for the SLPA to lead?
A. Analyzing a scene from a popular teen television show to identify emotional states
and intentions.
B. Providing intensive articulation therapy for residual /r/ errors.
C. Administering a standardized test of pragmatic language skills.
D. Creating a comprehensive list of rules for all social situations.
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Using media like TV shows or movies is an effective and engaging way to
teach social cognition and inference skills. It allows for a safe, structured environment to
practice identifying and discussing abstract social concepts, which is a functional approach
for a teen with TBI.
9. A 2-year-old client is diagnosed with a severe language delay. The family speaks
Spanish at home and only limited English. How should the SLPA BEST support this
client and family?
A. Instruct the family to speak only English at home to support the child's school
readiness.
B. Provide all therapy materials and home programs exclusively in English.
C. Collaborate with the SLP to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate materials
and strategies, including the use of Spanish.
D. Focus only on English vocabulary and grammar during therapy, as that is the
language of instruction.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: It is an ethical imperative to provide culturally and linguistically responsive
, services. Supporting the family's primary language (Spanish) helps build a strong
foundation for communication and development, which will positively transfer to the
second language (English). The SLP and SLPA must work as a team to meet the family's
needs.
10. When taking data during a therapy session to calculate the percentage of
correct responses, which method is the BEST representation of a client's
performance?
A. Calculating the total number of correct responses in the session.
B. Calculating the total number of incorrect responses in the session.
C. Calculating the ratio of correct responses to the total number of opportunities
provided.
D. Calculating the frequency of a target behavior over time.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The percentage of correct responses is the most objective and standard
way to track client progress, as it accounts for the number of trials given. It provides a
clear metric for comparing performance across sessions.
11. An SLPA observes a new client who speaks with a dialectal variation. The SLPA
should FIRST:
A. Immediately begin therapy to correct the dialectal difference.
B. Inform the client that their speech is incorrect.
C. Discuss with the supervising SLP the characteristics of the dialect to ensure
appropriate assessment and avoid misdiagnosis.
D. Ignore the differences and focus solely on articulatory targets.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Dialectal variations are not disorders. It is crucial for the SLPA to recognize
this and consult with the supervising SLP to ensure that the client is not inappropriately
pathologized. The SLP will then determine if a true disorder exists in addition to the
dialect.
12. A client presents with a hoarse and breathy voice quality. Which of the
following laryngeal conditions is MOST likely causing this vocal quality?
A. Vocal fold nodules.
B. Laryngitis.
C. Vocal fold paralysis.
D. Spasmodic dysphonia.
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: Vocal fold paralysis is characterized by the inability of one or both vocal
folds to move, resulting in a breathy and weak voice due to incomplete glottal closure.
While nodules (A) cause a breathy, hoarse quality, paralysis is a more direct cause of a
