1
NBC-HIS National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument
Sciences EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE NEWEST 2026-2027 TEST
BANK| COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+| NBC HIS
CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP (MOST RECENT!!)
Section 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear
1. A patient who recently had a stroke with permanent limited use of one arm
presents with a symmetrical hearing loss and a history of excessive wax
requiring routine cleanings. Which two features should be considered when
selecting the proper hearing solution for this patient?
A. Directional microphones with adaptive compression and multi-memory
B. Telecoil and volume control
C. Remote control and Bluetooth
D. Wax guard and vent
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a patient with limited use of one arm, a remote control or
automatic features are helpful. Directional microphones with adaptive
compression help in noise, and multi-memory allows for different listening
situations. A telecoil and volume control may be difficult to manipulate. A
remote control and Bluetooth are useful but not the primary features
mentioned in the context of this patient. Wax guard and vent are important
but not the two features that address the patient's needs for ease of use and
adaptability.
, 2
2. Which two of the following are acceptable to use as part of a complete
hearing evaluation?
A. NU-6 and CID W-22
B. QuickSIN and POGO
C. REM and IHAFF
D. ABR and OAE
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: NU-6 and CID W-22 are standardized speech recognition tests used
in a complete hearing evaluation. QuickSIN is a speech-in-noise test, POGO is
a prescriptive fitting method, REM is real ear measurement, IHAFF is a fitting
algorithm, ABR and OAE are electrophysiologic tests that may be part of a
comprehensive evaluation but are not typically used as the primary speech
tests in a basic hearing evaluation.
3. A hearing healthcare professional is counseling a patient about learning
how to re-train the brain to listen with a hearing aid. What important fact
should be explained to the family/caregiver?
A. Hearing impaired individuals have listening habits to overcome.
B. The brain will adapt immediately.
C. Hearing aids restore normal hearing.
D. The patient should only wear the aid in quiet.
, 3
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patients with hearing loss often develop compensatory listening
habits that are not optimal for hearing aid use. The brain needs time to adapt
to amplified sound. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing, and
immediate adaptation is not expected. Wearing the aid only in quiet does not
promote adaptation.
4. The bending of waves around obstacles, such as sound waves producing
head diffraction, is called:
A. Diffraction
B. Refraction
C. Reflection
D. Absorption
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles. Refraction is
the change in speed and wavelength as sound passes through different media.
Reflection is the bouncing of sound. Absorption is the taking in of sound
energy.
, 4
5. Various components all populated into a tiny wafer of silicone help
miniaturize electrical energy from the microphone and is amplified and
modified by the integrated circuit. This is known as:
A. Integrated circuit
B. Transistor
C. Capacitor
D. Resistor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The integrated circuit (IC) is a miniaturized electronic circuit that
amplifies and modifies the electrical signal from the microphone. A transistor
is a component within the IC. A capacitor and resistor are also components
but do not describe the entire miniaturized circuit.
6. What is the maximum OSPL output formula?
A. Speech UCL + 20 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 10 dB
B. Speech UCL + 10 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 20 dB
C. Speech UCL + 15 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 15 dB
D. Speech UCL + 5 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 5 dB
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The maximum OSPL90 is typically set at the speech UCL plus 20 dB,
or the pure tone LDL between 2000 and 3000 Hz plus 10 dB. This ensures that
the maximum output does not exceed the patient's discomfort level.
NBC-HIS National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument
Sciences EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE NEWEST 2026-2027 TEST
BANK| COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+| NBC HIS
CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP (MOST RECENT!!)
Section 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear
1. A patient who recently had a stroke with permanent limited use of one arm
presents with a symmetrical hearing loss and a history of excessive wax
requiring routine cleanings. Which two features should be considered when
selecting the proper hearing solution for this patient?
A. Directional microphones with adaptive compression and multi-memory
B. Telecoil and volume control
C. Remote control and Bluetooth
D. Wax guard and vent
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a patient with limited use of one arm, a remote control or
automatic features are helpful. Directional microphones with adaptive
compression help in noise, and multi-memory allows for different listening
situations. A telecoil and volume control may be difficult to manipulate. A
remote control and Bluetooth are useful but not the primary features
mentioned in the context of this patient. Wax guard and vent are important
but not the two features that address the patient's needs for ease of use and
adaptability.
, 2
2. Which two of the following are acceptable to use as part of a complete
hearing evaluation?
A. NU-6 and CID W-22
B. QuickSIN and POGO
C. REM and IHAFF
D. ABR and OAE
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: NU-6 and CID W-22 are standardized speech recognition tests used
in a complete hearing evaluation. QuickSIN is a speech-in-noise test, POGO is
a prescriptive fitting method, REM is real ear measurement, IHAFF is a fitting
algorithm, ABR and OAE are electrophysiologic tests that may be part of a
comprehensive evaluation but are not typically used as the primary speech
tests in a basic hearing evaluation.
3. A hearing healthcare professional is counseling a patient about learning
how to re-train the brain to listen with a hearing aid. What important fact
should be explained to the family/caregiver?
A. Hearing impaired individuals have listening habits to overcome.
B. The brain will adapt immediately.
C. Hearing aids restore normal hearing.
D. The patient should only wear the aid in quiet.
, 3
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patients with hearing loss often develop compensatory listening
habits that are not optimal for hearing aid use. The brain needs time to adapt
to amplified sound. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing, and
immediate adaptation is not expected. Wearing the aid only in quiet does not
promote adaptation.
4. The bending of waves around obstacles, such as sound waves producing
head diffraction, is called:
A. Diffraction
B. Refraction
C. Reflection
D. Absorption
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles. Refraction is
the change in speed and wavelength as sound passes through different media.
Reflection is the bouncing of sound. Absorption is the taking in of sound
energy.
, 4
5. Various components all populated into a tiny wafer of silicone help
miniaturize electrical energy from the microphone and is amplified and
modified by the integrated circuit. This is known as:
A. Integrated circuit
B. Transistor
C. Capacitor
D. Resistor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The integrated circuit (IC) is a miniaturized electronic circuit that
amplifies and modifies the electrical signal from the microphone. A transistor
is a component within the IC. A capacitor and resistor are also components
but do not describe the entire miniaturized circuit.
6. What is the maximum OSPL output formula?
A. Speech UCL + 20 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 10 dB
B. Speech UCL + 10 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 20 dB
C. Speech UCL + 15 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 15 dB
D. Speech UCL + 5 dB typically; or pure tone LDL between 2k and 3k + 5 dB
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The maximum OSPL90 is typically set at the speech UCL plus 20 dB,
or the pure tone LDL between 2000 and 3000 Hz plus 10 dB. This ensures that
the maximum output does not exceed the patient's discomfort level.
