NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION IN
HEARING INSTRUMENT SCIENCES (NBC-HIS) EXAM
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A patient has right-ear air thresholds of 55 dB HL and bone thresholds of
15 dB HL at 500 Hz. The left ear is normal. What does the right-ear
finding represent?
A. Sensorineural loss
B. Conductive loss
C. Mixed loss
D. Normal hearing - Correct answer - B
The large air-bone gap with relatively normal bone conduction indicates
a conductive component.
A hearing aid produces acoustic feedback primarily when the earmold
has become loose. Which change would most directly address the
problem?
A. Increase high-frequency gain
B. Reduce compression ratio
C. Improve the acoustic seal
D. Increase maximum power output - Correct answer - C
pg. 1
,A compromised seal allows amplified sound to escape and re-enter the
microphone, producing feedback.
A patient's speech understanding is poor despite appropriately fitted
amplification. The audiogram shows severe bilateral sensorineural loss
with disproportionately poor word recognition. What should the
dispenser consider?
A. Referral for medical/audiologic evaluation
B. Increasing gain until speech is very loud
C. Removing all compression
D. Switching immediately to an open fitting - Correct answer - A
Poor speech recognition disproportionate to the pure-tone loss may
warrant further evaluation rather than simply increasing amplification.
A hearing aid has a maximum OSPL90 of 120 dB SPL. If the fitting
produces an output of 115 dB SPL for a particular input, how much
headroom remains before reaching OSPL90?
A. 10 dB
B. 15 dB
C. 20 dB
D. 5 dB - Correct answer - D
120 − 115 = 5 dB of remaining output margin.
pg. 2
,A patient reports that voices sound unnaturally sharp after a hearing-aid
fitting. Which programming adjustment should be considered first?
A. Reduce excessive high-frequency gain
B. Increase MPO
C. Increase low-frequency compression
D. Increase overall gain - Correct answer - A
Excessive high-frequency amplification can make speech sound sharp,
tinny, or harsh.
During troubleshooting, a hearing aid is completely silent. The battery
tests good, the receiver is functioning, and the microphone opening is
visibly blocked with debris. What should be done first?
A. Replace the receiver
B. Increase gain
C. Clean the microphone opening
D. Replace the programming software - Correct answer - C
A blocked microphone can prevent acoustic input from reaching the
amplification system.
A patient has a 30 dB HL hearing loss at 500 Hz and a 70 dB HL loss at
4000 Hz. Which fitting characteristic is most important?
A. Identical gain across frequencies
B. Greater high-frequency amplification
C. Elimination of compression
pg. 3
, D. Maximum low-frequency gain - Correct answer - B
The audiogram shows a steeply sloping loss, requiring substantially
greater amplification in the high frequencies.
A hearing aid's input is 60 dB SPL and its programmed gain at that input
is 25 dB. Ignoring other processing effects, what output should be
expected?
A. 35 dB SPL
B. 60 dB SPL
C. 75 dB SPL
D. 85 dB SPL - Correct answer - D
Input plus gain gives approximately 85 dB SPL.
An adult suddenly develops unilateral hearing loss accompanied by
tinnitus beginning this morning. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Schedule routine hearing-aid fitting
B. Recommend waiting one week
C. Refer promptly for medical evaluation
D. Increase amplification in the affected ear - Correct answer - C
Sudden unilateral hearing loss is a medical red flag requiring prompt
evaluation.
pg. 4
HEARING INSTRUMENT SCIENCES (NBC-HIS) EXAM
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A patient has right-ear air thresholds of 55 dB HL and bone thresholds of
15 dB HL at 500 Hz. The left ear is normal. What does the right-ear
finding represent?
A. Sensorineural loss
B. Conductive loss
C. Mixed loss
D. Normal hearing - Correct answer - B
The large air-bone gap with relatively normal bone conduction indicates
a conductive component.
A hearing aid produces acoustic feedback primarily when the earmold
has become loose. Which change would most directly address the
problem?
A. Increase high-frequency gain
B. Reduce compression ratio
C. Improve the acoustic seal
D. Increase maximum power output - Correct answer - C
pg. 1
,A compromised seal allows amplified sound to escape and re-enter the
microphone, producing feedback.
A patient's speech understanding is poor despite appropriately fitted
amplification. The audiogram shows severe bilateral sensorineural loss
with disproportionately poor word recognition. What should the
dispenser consider?
A. Referral for medical/audiologic evaluation
B. Increasing gain until speech is very loud
C. Removing all compression
D. Switching immediately to an open fitting - Correct answer - A
Poor speech recognition disproportionate to the pure-tone loss may
warrant further evaluation rather than simply increasing amplification.
A hearing aid has a maximum OSPL90 of 120 dB SPL. If the fitting
produces an output of 115 dB SPL for a particular input, how much
headroom remains before reaching OSPL90?
A. 10 dB
B. 15 dB
C. 20 dB
D. 5 dB - Correct answer - D
120 − 115 = 5 dB of remaining output margin.
pg. 2
,A patient reports that voices sound unnaturally sharp after a hearing-aid
fitting. Which programming adjustment should be considered first?
A. Reduce excessive high-frequency gain
B. Increase MPO
C. Increase low-frequency compression
D. Increase overall gain - Correct answer - A
Excessive high-frequency amplification can make speech sound sharp,
tinny, or harsh.
During troubleshooting, a hearing aid is completely silent. The battery
tests good, the receiver is functioning, and the microphone opening is
visibly blocked with debris. What should be done first?
A. Replace the receiver
B. Increase gain
C. Clean the microphone opening
D. Replace the programming software - Correct answer - C
A blocked microphone can prevent acoustic input from reaching the
amplification system.
A patient has a 30 dB HL hearing loss at 500 Hz and a 70 dB HL loss at
4000 Hz. Which fitting characteristic is most important?
A. Identical gain across frequencies
B. Greater high-frequency amplification
C. Elimination of compression
pg. 3
, D. Maximum low-frequency gain - Correct answer - B
The audiogram shows a steeply sloping loss, requiring substantially
greater amplification in the high frequencies.
A hearing aid's input is 60 dB SPL and its programmed gain at that input
is 25 dB. Ignoring other processing effects, what output should be
expected?
A. 35 dB SPL
B. 60 dB SPL
C. 75 dB SPL
D. 85 dB SPL - Correct answer - D
Input plus gain gives approximately 85 dB SPL.
An adult suddenly develops unilateral hearing loss accompanied by
tinnitus beginning this morning. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Schedule routine hearing-aid fitting
B. Recommend waiting one week
C. Refer promptly for medical evaluation
D. Increase amplification in the affected ear - Correct answer - C
Sudden unilateral hearing loss is a medical red flag requiring prompt
evaluation.
pg. 4
