SLP ETS Practice Test FORM 2
Which of the following formants typically characterizes a high vowel?
A.High-frequency second formant (F2)
B.High-frequency first formant (F1)
C.Low-frequency first formant (F1)
D.Low-frequency second formant (F2) Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. The F1 is inversely
associated with tongue height, such that high vowels tend to have low F1 frequencies.
GOT WRONG: A
A 65-year-old patient is transferred from another facility with a diagnosis of aphasia. The patient's
symptoms, however, appear more consistent with apraxia. Which of the following tasks for the patient
is most appropriate when assessing verbal apraxia of speech?
A.Repeating words of increasing length
B.Recalling three common items
C.Performing voluntary oral movements
D.Following two-step commands Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Inability to repeat two-syllable
words is a clear indicator of apraxia of speech.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in a child with Down syndrome is most likely caused by which of the following
factors?
A.Hypotonia
B.Digestive problems
C.Pneumonia
D.Aversive feeding behaviors Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Hypotonia is the leading cause of
swallowing disorders in children with Down syndrome.
Which of the following recommendations to a parent of an infant with cleft lip and palate should an SLP
make to best optimize feeding for adequate nutrition and appropriate growth?
A.Providing a bottle rather than breast-feeding the infant
B.Positioning the infant in a supine position during feeding times
C.Allowing the infant to take as much time as needed to feed
D.Using a bottle with a modified nipple during feedings Correct Answer: Option (D) is correct. A bottle
with a modified nipple allows for greater control over the quantity of liquid expressed and the pacing of
feeding.
The head lift exercise published by Shaker et al. (2002) was designed to produce which of the following
changes in swallow biomechanics?
,A.Increase in laryngeal closure duration
B.Strengthening of the base of the tongue
C.Increase in diameter and duration of the upper esophageal sphincter (UESU E S) opening
D.Prolonged relaxation of the cricopharyngeal portion of the inferior constrictor muscle Correct Answer:
Option (C) is correct. The results of Shaker et al. (2002) demonstrated a significant (p<.01p left angle
bracket period zero one) increase in the opening duration of the UES.
Which of the following sounds are typically mastered by the time a child turns 3?
A./k/ and /g/
B./p/ and /b/
C./l/ and /s/
D./ch/ and /sh/ Correct Answer: Option (B) is correct. /p/ and /b/forward slash p forward slash and
forward slash b forward slash should be mastered by age 3 in a typically developing child.
When assessing the ability of a student with cerebral palsy to access an augmentative and alternative
communication device, which of the following physical factors must be evaluated first?
A.Upper extremity range of motion
B.Lower extremity strength
C.Trunk stability and control
D.Fine motor dexterity Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. Trunk stability will guide the clinician in
making an appropriate recommendation for the type of device a client can access as it influences more
distal movements.
A school-based SLP wants to discharge a fifth-grade student. The student has mastered all his goals
except /r/forward slash r forward slash in conversational speech. The SLP worked with the student for
the entire school year, and the student is able to use /r/forward slash r forward slash accurately 75
percent of the time. However, the goal is to reach 90 percent accuracy. Because the student worked on
the skill all year and still has not met the established goal, the SLP feels the student performs at his
highest possible level. The SLP does not think it is in the student's best interest to continue pulling the
student out of class to address the goal. The parents are upset and are questioning the SLP's decision.
Which of the following statements from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Code of Ethics can be used to back up the SLP's decision?
A.Individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence shall evaluate the effectiveness of services
provided, technology employed, and products dispensed, and they shall provide services or dispense
products only when benefit can reasonably be expected.
B.Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve
professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities, and they shall treat animals
involved in research in a humane manner.
C.Individuals shall use every resource, including referral and/or interprofessional collaboration when
appropriate, to ensure that quality service is provided.
D.Individuals shall provide all clinical services and scientific activities competently. Correct Answer:
Option (A) is correct. According to ASHA, it is important that SLPs remember to provide services when a
benefit can be expected. The SLP has exhausted all treatment options and a benefit for this student is no
longer expected.
,Place the phonemes below in the order of typical acquisition.
/p/ /θ/ /k/ /ʒ/ Correct Answer: /p/
/k/
/θ/
/ʒ/
/p/ is first because this phoneme is developed between ages 1 and 3. /k/f is second because this is
developed by age 3 1/2. /θ/ is third because this is developed between ages 3 and 8. /ʒ/ is last because
this is developed between ages 6 and 8.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following medical conditions, in combination with her stroke, is likely to have the greatest
impact on the patient's communication abilities?
A.Seizure disorder
B.Diabetes
C.TBIT B I
D.Obesity Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. Patients with TBIT B I are more likely to have
metacognitive problems in addition to the aphasia, thus impacting their ability to improve.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following tasks is most appropriate to include when assessing the patient's phrase length?
A.Completing divergent naming tasks
B.Maintaining a conversation with a known partner
C.Responding to open-ended questions
, D.Repeating sentences of varying lengths Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. When an SLP assesses
phrase length, it is important to task the patient with open-ended questions to assess the patient's
ability to spontaneously produce speech.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following medical factors should the SLP give the most weight when determining the
patient's communication prognosis?
A.Frequency of seizures
B.Severity of the stroke
C.Level of obesity
D.Severity of diabetes Correct Answer: Option (B) is correct. Information about the severity of the
patient's stroke is necessary to estimate the patient's chance of recovery.
Inhalation during respiration is primarily carried out through the movement of which of the following
muscles or muscle groups?
A.Diaphragm
B.Internal intercostals
C.External intercostals
D.Scalenes Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. The diaphragm is the muscle that creates the most
volume in the lungs.
An SLP receives a referral from an audiologist for a 72-year-old woman who demonstrates a moderate
to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss preventing her from participating in social activities. Which
of the following best identifies the SLP's role?
A.Training in speech reading
B.Prescribing hearing aids
C.Performing an auditory evaluation
D.Using auditory integration training Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Providing speech-reading
therapy is a primary role for SLPs as it enhances the overall communicative competency for the client.
An SLP provides home practice for a patient with aphasia as part of discharge plans. The patient is
approximately six-months post left-hemisphere stroke that resulted in aphasia. Verbal output has
improved significantly since the stroke; however, the patient is still very concerned that written
expression is moderately impaired at the single-word level. The homework assignment is to implement
copy-and-recall treatment to improve written expression, which involves practicing writing target words
(from photographs) and then copying those words multiple times. However, during a follow-up phone
Which of the following formants typically characterizes a high vowel?
A.High-frequency second formant (F2)
B.High-frequency first formant (F1)
C.Low-frequency first formant (F1)
D.Low-frequency second formant (F2) Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. The F1 is inversely
associated with tongue height, such that high vowels tend to have low F1 frequencies.
GOT WRONG: A
A 65-year-old patient is transferred from another facility with a diagnosis of aphasia. The patient's
symptoms, however, appear more consistent with apraxia. Which of the following tasks for the patient
is most appropriate when assessing verbal apraxia of speech?
A.Repeating words of increasing length
B.Recalling three common items
C.Performing voluntary oral movements
D.Following two-step commands Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Inability to repeat two-syllable
words is a clear indicator of apraxia of speech.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in a child with Down syndrome is most likely caused by which of the following
factors?
A.Hypotonia
B.Digestive problems
C.Pneumonia
D.Aversive feeding behaviors Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Hypotonia is the leading cause of
swallowing disorders in children with Down syndrome.
Which of the following recommendations to a parent of an infant with cleft lip and palate should an SLP
make to best optimize feeding for adequate nutrition and appropriate growth?
A.Providing a bottle rather than breast-feeding the infant
B.Positioning the infant in a supine position during feeding times
C.Allowing the infant to take as much time as needed to feed
D.Using a bottle with a modified nipple during feedings Correct Answer: Option (D) is correct. A bottle
with a modified nipple allows for greater control over the quantity of liquid expressed and the pacing of
feeding.
The head lift exercise published by Shaker et al. (2002) was designed to produce which of the following
changes in swallow biomechanics?
,A.Increase in laryngeal closure duration
B.Strengthening of the base of the tongue
C.Increase in diameter and duration of the upper esophageal sphincter (UESU E S) opening
D.Prolonged relaxation of the cricopharyngeal portion of the inferior constrictor muscle Correct Answer:
Option (C) is correct. The results of Shaker et al. (2002) demonstrated a significant (p<.01p left angle
bracket period zero one) increase in the opening duration of the UES.
Which of the following sounds are typically mastered by the time a child turns 3?
A./k/ and /g/
B./p/ and /b/
C./l/ and /s/
D./ch/ and /sh/ Correct Answer: Option (B) is correct. /p/ and /b/forward slash p forward slash and
forward slash b forward slash should be mastered by age 3 in a typically developing child.
When assessing the ability of a student with cerebral palsy to access an augmentative and alternative
communication device, which of the following physical factors must be evaluated first?
A.Upper extremity range of motion
B.Lower extremity strength
C.Trunk stability and control
D.Fine motor dexterity Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. Trunk stability will guide the clinician in
making an appropriate recommendation for the type of device a client can access as it influences more
distal movements.
A school-based SLP wants to discharge a fifth-grade student. The student has mastered all his goals
except /r/forward slash r forward slash in conversational speech. The SLP worked with the student for
the entire school year, and the student is able to use /r/forward slash r forward slash accurately 75
percent of the time. However, the goal is to reach 90 percent accuracy. Because the student worked on
the skill all year and still has not met the established goal, the SLP feels the student performs at his
highest possible level. The SLP does not think it is in the student's best interest to continue pulling the
student out of class to address the goal. The parents are upset and are questioning the SLP's decision.
Which of the following statements from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Code of Ethics can be used to back up the SLP's decision?
A.Individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence shall evaluate the effectiveness of services
provided, technology employed, and products dispensed, and they shall provide services or dispense
products only when benefit can reasonably be expected.
B.Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve
professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities, and they shall treat animals
involved in research in a humane manner.
C.Individuals shall use every resource, including referral and/or interprofessional collaboration when
appropriate, to ensure that quality service is provided.
D.Individuals shall provide all clinical services and scientific activities competently. Correct Answer:
Option (A) is correct. According to ASHA, it is important that SLPs remember to provide services when a
benefit can be expected. The SLP has exhausted all treatment options and a benefit for this student is no
longer expected.
,Place the phonemes below in the order of typical acquisition.
/p/ /θ/ /k/ /ʒ/ Correct Answer: /p/
/k/
/θ/
/ʒ/
/p/ is first because this phoneme is developed between ages 1 and 3. /k/f is second because this is
developed by age 3 1/2. /θ/ is third because this is developed between ages 3 and 8. /ʒ/ is last because
this is developed between ages 6 and 8.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following medical conditions, in combination with her stroke, is likely to have the greatest
impact on the patient's communication abilities?
A.Seizure disorder
B.Diabetes
C.TBIT B I
D.Obesity Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. Patients with TBIT B I are more likely to have
metacognitive problems in addition to the aphasia, thus impacting their ability to improve.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following tasks is most appropriate to include when assessing the patient's phrase length?
A.Completing divergent naming tasks
B.Maintaining a conversation with a known partner
C.Responding to open-ended questions
, D.Repeating sentences of varying lengths Correct Answer: Option (C) is correct. When an SLP assesses
phrase length, it is important to task the patient with open-ended questions to assess the patient's
ability to spontaneously produce speech.
An 81-year-old female presents to a rehabilitation hospital following a severe L MCA stroke. The patient
has poststroke right-sided weakness, right neglect, and suspected nonfluent aphasia. Receptive
language appears to be mildly impacted. The patient has a complex medical history, including TBI
following a car accident two years ago, obesity, diabetes, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, and
hypertension. Socially, the patient has lived alone for the past three years following her husband's
death. Since her car accident she mainly watches TV at home and leaves her house only for dialysis. She
has meals on wheels and home health aides to assist her with showering. Because of her TBI, her
behavior is often variable and erratic. The highest level of education she attained was seventh grade.
She stayed home to take care of her children and did not have a career.
Which of the following medical factors should the SLP give the most weight when determining the
patient's communication prognosis?
A.Frequency of seizures
B.Severity of the stroke
C.Level of obesity
D.Severity of diabetes Correct Answer: Option (B) is correct. Information about the severity of the
patient's stroke is necessary to estimate the patient's chance of recovery.
Inhalation during respiration is primarily carried out through the movement of which of the following
muscles or muscle groups?
A.Diaphragm
B.Internal intercostals
C.External intercostals
D.Scalenes Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. The diaphragm is the muscle that creates the most
volume in the lungs.
An SLP receives a referral from an audiologist for a 72-year-old woman who demonstrates a moderate
to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss preventing her from participating in social activities. Which
of the following best identifies the SLP's role?
A.Training in speech reading
B.Prescribing hearing aids
C.Performing an auditory evaluation
D.Using auditory integration training Correct Answer: Option (A) is correct. Providing speech-reading
therapy is a primary role for SLPs as it enhances the overall communicative competency for the client.
An SLP provides home practice for a patient with aphasia as part of discharge plans. The patient is
approximately six-months post left-hemisphere stroke that resulted in aphasia. Verbal output has
improved significantly since the stroke; however, the patient is still very concerned that written
expression is moderately impaired at the single-word level. The homework assignment is to implement
copy-and-recall treatment to improve written expression, which involves practicing writing target words
(from photographs) and then copying those words multiple times. However, during a follow-up phone
