Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse (CDDN) Exam
2026/2027 | Questions with Answers & Rationales | DDNA
Certification Test Bank – Verified A+ Study Guide
Table of Contents
1. Developmental Disabilities Foundations
2. Assessment, Health Promotion & Preventive Care
3. Communication, Behavior & Mental Health
4. Complex Medical Conditions & Clinical Management
5. Medication Management & Safety
6. Nutrition, Feeding, Oral Health & Elimination
7. Advocacy, Ethics, Rights & Person-Centered Care
8. Community Integration, Education & Support Systems
9. Aging, End-of-Life & Special Populations
10. Integrated CDDN Clinical Scenarios
SECTION 1 — DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOUNDATIONS
Question 1
Which characteristic best describes an intellectual disability?
A. A temporary decline in memory caused by aging
B. Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
beginning during the developmental period
C. A psychiatric disorder occurring only during adulthood
D. A physical disability affecting mobility only
Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual disability involves limitations in intellectual functioning and
adaptive behavior, including conceptual, social, and practical skills, with onset
,during the developmental period. It is broader than a physical impairment or an
acquired cognitive decline.
Question 2
Which domain is included in adaptive functioning?
A. Only IQ testing
B. Conceptual, social, and practical skills
C. Only physical strength
D. Only academic performance
Answer: B
Rationale: Adaptive functioning involves the skills a person uses in everyday life.
Conceptual skills include communication and literacy, social skills include
interpersonal functioning, and practical skills include activities such as self-care
and managing daily routines.
Question 3
A nurse is planning care for a person with developmental disability. Which
approach best demonstrates person-centered care?
A. Making decisions for the person whenever possible
B. Following the caregiver's preferences regardless of the individual's wishes
C. Including the person in decisions according to their abilities and preferences
D. Using the same care plan for every person with the same diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Person-centered care recognizes the individual as an active participant
in care. Communication and decision-making should be adapted to the person's
abilities while respecting preferences, autonomy, and rights.
Question 4
,Which condition is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Autism spectrum disorder
C. Hypertension
D. Coronary artery disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition involving
differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive patterns of
behavior or interests. It begins during the developmental period.
Question 5
Which statement about autism spectrum disorder is most accurate?
A. All autistic individuals have intellectual disability.
B. Autism has a single characteristic level of functioning.
C. Autism involves differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive
behaviors or interests.
D. Autism is caused by poor parenting.
Answer: C
Rationale: Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition. Individuals
vary widely in communication, cognition, sensory processing, adaptive skills, and
support needs.
Question 6
A nurse notices that a patient with developmental disability becomes distressed
when the daily schedule changes unexpectedly. What is the best initial
intervention?
A. Remove all activities from the schedule
B. Provide predictable routines and advance notice of changes when possible
, C. Ignore the distress
D. Immediately administer a sedative
Answer: B
Rationale: Predictability can reduce anxiety and behavioral distress for some
individuals. Visual schedules, advance warnings, and gradual transitions may be
particularly helpful.
Question 7
Which factor is particularly important when assessing health in a person with
developmental disability?
A. Assuming absence of complaints means absence of disease
B. Recognizing that communication differences may mask symptoms
C. Avoiding physical examination
D. Relying only on caregiver observations
Answer: B
Rationale: Communication limitations can make pain, infection, gastrointestinal
problems, and other conditions difficult to recognize. Nurses should use multiple
sources of information, including behavior changes, observations, caregiver input,
and objective assessment.
Question 8
Which finding may represent pain in a person who has limited verbal
communication?
A. Only a verbal report of "pain"
B. Sudden behavioral change or withdrawal
C. Improved appetite
D. Stable sleep pattern
Answer: B
2026/2027 | Questions with Answers & Rationales | DDNA
Certification Test Bank – Verified A+ Study Guide
Table of Contents
1. Developmental Disabilities Foundations
2. Assessment, Health Promotion & Preventive Care
3. Communication, Behavior & Mental Health
4. Complex Medical Conditions & Clinical Management
5. Medication Management & Safety
6. Nutrition, Feeding, Oral Health & Elimination
7. Advocacy, Ethics, Rights & Person-Centered Care
8. Community Integration, Education & Support Systems
9. Aging, End-of-Life & Special Populations
10. Integrated CDDN Clinical Scenarios
SECTION 1 — DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOUNDATIONS
Question 1
Which characteristic best describes an intellectual disability?
A. A temporary decline in memory caused by aging
B. Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
beginning during the developmental period
C. A psychiatric disorder occurring only during adulthood
D. A physical disability affecting mobility only
Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual disability involves limitations in intellectual functioning and
adaptive behavior, including conceptual, social, and practical skills, with onset
,during the developmental period. It is broader than a physical impairment or an
acquired cognitive decline.
Question 2
Which domain is included in adaptive functioning?
A. Only IQ testing
B. Conceptual, social, and practical skills
C. Only physical strength
D. Only academic performance
Answer: B
Rationale: Adaptive functioning involves the skills a person uses in everyday life.
Conceptual skills include communication and literacy, social skills include
interpersonal functioning, and practical skills include activities such as self-care
and managing daily routines.
Question 3
A nurse is planning care for a person with developmental disability. Which
approach best demonstrates person-centered care?
A. Making decisions for the person whenever possible
B. Following the caregiver's preferences regardless of the individual's wishes
C. Including the person in decisions according to their abilities and preferences
D. Using the same care plan for every person with the same diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Person-centered care recognizes the individual as an active participant
in care. Communication and decision-making should be adapted to the person's
abilities while respecting preferences, autonomy, and rights.
Question 4
,Which condition is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Autism spectrum disorder
C. Hypertension
D. Coronary artery disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition involving
differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive patterns of
behavior or interests. It begins during the developmental period.
Question 5
Which statement about autism spectrum disorder is most accurate?
A. All autistic individuals have intellectual disability.
B. Autism has a single characteristic level of functioning.
C. Autism involves differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive
behaviors or interests.
D. Autism is caused by poor parenting.
Answer: C
Rationale: Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition. Individuals
vary widely in communication, cognition, sensory processing, adaptive skills, and
support needs.
Question 6
A nurse notices that a patient with developmental disability becomes distressed
when the daily schedule changes unexpectedly. What is the best initial
intervention?
A. Remove all activities from the schedule
B. Provide predictable routines and advance notice of changes when possible
, C. Ignore the distress
D. Immediately administer a sedative
Answer: B
Rationale: Predictability can reduce anxiety and behavioral distress for some
individuals. Visual schedules, advance warnings, and gradual transitions may be
particularly helpful.
Question 7
Which factor is particularly important when assessing health in a person with
developmental disability?
A. Assuming absence of complaints means absence of disease
B. Recognizing that communication differences may mask symptoms
C. Avoiding physical examination
D. Relying only on caregiver observations
Answer: B
Rationale: Communication limitations can make pain, infection, gastrointestinal
problems, and other conditions difficult to recognize. Nurses should use multiple
sources of information, including behavior changes, observations, caregiver input,
and objective assessment.
Question 8
Which finding may represent pain in a person who has limited verbal
communication?
A. Only a verbal report of "pain"
B. Sudden behavioral change or withdrawal
C. Improved appetite
D. Stable sleep pattern
Answer: B
