CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES NURSE (CDDN) PRACTICE
EXAM 2026 200 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS & RATIONALES DDNA
CERTIFICATION TEST BANK – VERIFIED
A+ STUDY GUIDE
1. What is the primary goal of person-centered care for a person with an
intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)?
A. Make all decisions for the person
B. Maximize autonomy, choice, and quality of life
C. Minimize community participation
D. Standardize care for everyone
Answer: B. Maximize autonomy, choice, and quality of life
Rationale: Person-centered care respects individual preferences, strengths, goals, rights, and
choices while providing appropriate support.
2. Which characteristic is commonly associated with intellectual disability?
A. Impairment in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
B. Temporary sadness only
C. Isolated hearing impairment
D. Acute infection
Answer: A. Impairment in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
Rationale: Intellectual disability involves limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive
behavior, with onset during the developmental period.
,3. Which adaptive domain includes communication and academic skills?
A. Conceptual
B. Social
C. Practical
D. Motor
Answer: A. Conceptual
Rationale: The conceptual domain includes language, reading, writing, money concepts, time,
and related skills.
4. Which is an example of a practical adaptive skill?
A. Managing personal hygiene
B. Understanding friendship
C. Reading a story
D. Recognizing emotions
Answer: A. Managing personal hygiene
Rationale: Practical adaptive skills include activities of daily living, safety, transportation, work,
and self-care.
5. Which approach best promotes self-determination?
A. Offering meaningful choices
B. Making every decision for the person
C. Restricting choices to staff preferences
D. Avoiding discussions about goals
Answer: A. Offering meaningful choices
Rationale: Self-determination involves supporting the person's ability to make choices and
direct aspects of their own life.
6. A nurse is communicating with a person who has limited verbal speech. What should the
nurse do?
,A. Speak only with the caregiver
B. Use appropriate alternative communication methods
C. Assume the person cannot understand
D. Avoid communicating directly
Answer: B. Use appropriate alternative communication methods
Rationale: Communication should be adapted to the person's needs while maintaining direct
interaction with the individual.
7. Which is an example of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?
A. Picture communication system
B. Surgical dressing
C. Blood pressure cuff
D. Walker
Answer: A. Picture communication system
Rationale: AAC includes tools such as picture boards, communication devices, gestures, and
speech-generating technology.
8. When communicating with a person who has an intellectual disability, the nurse should:
A. Use clear, concrete language
B. Use complicated medical terminology
C. Speak rapidly
D. Avoid checking understanding
Answer: A. Use clear, concrete language
Rationale: Clear, simple communication improves comprehension while preserving adult
dignity.
9. Which action demonstrates respect for an adult with IDD?
A. Speaking to the person directly
B. Referring to the person as a child
C. Discussing private information publicly
D. Assuming the caregiver makes all decisions
, Answer: A. Speaking to the person directly
Rationale: Adults with disabilities should be addressed respectfully and directly.
10. What is a major purpose of a person-centered plan?
A. Identify the person's goals, preferences, strengths, and needed supports
B. Eliminate the person's choices
C. Replace all medical care
D. Focus exclusively on deficits
Answer: A. Identify the person's goals, preferences, strengths, and needed supports
Rationale: Person-centered planning focuses on the individual's desired life outcomes and
supports needed to achieve them.
Assessment and Health Promotion
11. Why can health problems be missed in people with IDD?
A. Symptoms may be difficult to communicate or recognize
B. They never develop medical conditions
C. They have unusually strong immunity
D. Routine assessments are unnecessary
Answer: A. Symptoms may be difficult to communicate or recognize
Rationale: Communication differences, atypical symptom presentation, and diagnostic
overshadowing can contribute to missed conditions.
12. What is diagnostic overshadowing?
A. Attributing a new symptom to a person's disability instead of investigating another possible
condition
B. Using two diagnostic tests
C. Diagnosing two unrelated diseases
D. Changing a diagnosis after treatment
Answer: A. Attributing a new symptom to a person's disability instead of investigating another
possible condition
DISABILITIES NURSE (CDDN) PRACTICE
EXAM 2026 200 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS & RATIONALES DDNA
CERTIFICATION TEST BANK – VERIFIED
A+ STUDY GUIDE
1. What is the primary goal of person-centered care for a person with an
intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)?
A. Make all decisions for the person
B. Maximize autonomy, choice, and quality of life
C. Minimize community participation
D. Standardize care for everyone
Answer: B. Maximize autonomy, choice, and quality of life
Rationale: Person-centered care respects individual preferences, strengths, goals, rights, and
choices while providing appropriate support.
2. Which characteristic is commonly associated with intellectual disability?
A. Impairment in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
B. Temporary sadness only
C. Isolated hearing impairment
D. Acute infection
Answer: A. Impairment in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
Rationale: Intellectual disability involves limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive
behavior, with onset during the developmental period.
,3. Which adaptive domain includes communication and academic skills?
A. Conceptual
B. Social
C. Practical
D. Motor
Answer: A. Conceptual
Rationale: The conceptual domain includes language, reading, writing, money concepts, time,
and related skills.
4. Which is an example of a practical adaptive skill?
A. Managing personal hygiene
B. Understanding friendship
C. Reading a story
D. Recognizing emotions
Answer: A. Managing personal hygiene
Rationale: Practical adaptive skills include activities of daily living, safety, transportation, work,
and self-care.
5. Which approach best promotes self-determination?
A. Offering meaningful choices
B. Making every decision for the person
C. Restricting choices to staff preferences
D. Avoiding discussions about goals
Answer: A. Offering meaningful choices
Rationale: Self-determination involves supporting the person's ability to make choices and
direct aspects of their own life.
6. A nurse is communicating with a person who has limited verbal speech. What should the
nurse do?
,A. Speak only with the caregiver
B. Use appropriate alternative communication methods
C. Assume the person cannot understand
D. Avoid communicating directly
Answer: B. Use appropriate alternative communication methods
Rationale: Communication should be adapted to the person's needs while maintaining direct
interaction with the individual.
7. Which is an example of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?
A. Picture communication system
B. Surgical dressing
C. Blood pressure cuff
D. Walker
Answer: A. Picture communication system
Rationale: AAC includes tools such as picture boards, communication devices, gestures, and
speech-generating technology.
8. When communicating with a person who has an intellectual disability, the nurse should:
A. Use clear, concrete language
B. Use complicated medical terminology
C. Speak rapidly
D. Avoid checking understanding
Answer: A. Use clear, concrete language
Rationale: Clear, simple communication improves comprehension while preserving adult
dignity.
9. Which action demonstrates respect for an adult with IDD?
A. Speaking to the person directly
B. Referring to the person as a child
C. Discussing private information publicly
D. Assuming the caregiver makes all decisions
, Answer: A. Speaking to the person directly
Rationale: Adults with disabilities should be addressed respectfully and directly.
10. What is a major purpose of a person-centered plan?
A. Identify the person's goals, preferences, strengths, and needed supports
B. Eliminate the person's choices
C. Replace all medical care
D. Focus exclusively on deficits
Answer: A. Identify the person's goals, preferences, strengths, and needed supports
Rationale: Person-centered planning focuses on the individual's desired life outcomes and
supports needed to achieve them.
Assessment and Health Promotion
11. Why can health problems be missed in people with IDD?
A. Symptoms may be difficult to communicate or recognize
B. They never develop medical conditions
C. They have unusually strong immunity
D. Routine assessments are unnecessary
Answer: A. Symptoms may be difficult to communicate or recognize
Rationale: Communication differences, atypical symptom presentation, and diagnostic
overshadowing can contribute to missed conditions.
12. What is diagnostic overshadowing?
A. Attributing a new symptom to a person's disability instead of investigating another possible
condition
B. Using two diagnostic tests
C. Diagnosing two unrelated diseases
D. Changing a diagnosis after treatment
Answer: A. Attributing a new symptom to a person's disability instead of investigating another
possible condition
