Page 1 of 90
TEXES 181 DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES
GRADED A+
TExES 181 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing — Exam Prep Study Guide 2026
SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING (Questions
1–25)
1. Which of the following best explains why it can be important to know if a child's hearing
loss is congenital?
A. To comfort parents who feel responsible for their child's hearing loss
B. To understand whether the hearing loss is likely to get worse over time
C. To determine whether or not there are co-occurring conditions
D. To prepare appropriately for the child's special education placement
Correct Answer: B) To understand whether the hearing loss is likely to get worse over time
Rationale: Knowing whether hearing loss is congenital helps parents and caregivers understand
the course the hearing loss might take over time and prepare for possible future developments.
Option A is incorrect because this knowledge is not likely to comfort parents. Option C is
incorrect because co-occurring conditions must be determined through appropriate testing.
Option D is incorrect because planning the child's education must begin as soon as the loss is
determined, regardless of cause.
1|Page
,Page 2 of 90
2. Which of the following is the most significant difference between American Sign Language
(ASL) and spoken English?
A. The primary articulators of ASL are mostly hidden, but they are obvious in spoken English
B. The primary articulators of ASL are obvious, but they are mostly hidden in spoken English
C. ASL does not have a system of grammar, but spoken English does
D. ASL uses gestures, but spoken English does not
Correct Answer: B) The primary articulators of ASL are obvious, but they are mostly hidden in
spoken English
Rationale: The primary articulators of sign languages (facial expressions and hands) are
normally always visible. In contrast, the oral articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, and jaw) are
difficult to observe. Option A is incorrect because sign language articulators are always visible.
Option C is incorrect because both languages have grammar systems. Option D is incorrect
because English speakers also use gestures.
3. Early hearing intervention and early exposure to language learning for deaf and hard-of-
hearing children is normally associated with:
A. Slow language progress in spite of increased language exposure
B. Significant increases in verbal IQ and achievement scores
C. More efficient vocabulary learning and word use
D. Reading on grade level in the elementary grades
Correct Answer: C) More efficient vocabulary learning and word use
Rationale: Research supports that children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and who receive
early hearing intervention and early exposure to language learning can expand their
vocabularies and learn words at the same rate as children who are not deaf. Option A is
incorrect because early interventions do not equate to slow progress. Option B is incorrect
because IQ scores are not based on learned skills. Option D is incorrect because early
intervention does not often equate to reading on grade level.
2|Page
,Page 3 of 90
4. A teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing is working with a special education teacher for a
student's IEP conference. The special education teacher decides it is necessary to change the
testing accommodations. What is necessary to change this in the IEP?
A. Nothing
B. Class teacher interest
C. Prior written notice
D. Accommodations
Correct Answer: C) Prior written notice
Rationale: Changes and revisions to an IEP require prior written notice. The date, reason, and
description of the changes should be included in the notice provided to the IEP team.
5. Which of the following are the three types of hearing loss?
A. Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed
B. Conductive, central, and functional
C. Sensorineural, peripheral, and mixed
D. Conductive, sensorineural, and functional
Correct Answer: A) Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed
Rationale: The three types of hearing loss are conductive (sound not efficiently conducted from
outer ear to eardrum), sensorineural (damage to inner ear or auditory nerve), and mixed
(combination of both).
6. Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid remains in the inner ear. What effects can this have
on a student?
A. Improved balance and hearing
B. Poor balance and difficulty hearing soft sounds
C. Enhanced hearing sensitivity
D. No noticeable effects
Correct Answer: B) Poor balance and difficulty hearing soft sounds
3|Page
, Page 4 of 90
Rationale: Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid remains in the inner ear, causing poor balance
as fluid fills the Eustachian tubes. The fluid affects balance, which can cause clumsiness, and
makes hearing soft sounds difficult.
7. Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is not efficiently conducted from the outer
ear canal to the ear drum. This type of hearing loss can often be corrected with:
A. Medication
B. Surgery
C. Hearing aids only
D. Cochlear implants
Correct Answer: B) Surgery
Rationale: Conductive hearing loss can often be corrected with surgery. In this type of hearing
loss, the person will have trouble hearing faint sounds and also have a reduction in their sound
levels.
8. What are cochlear implants?
A. External hearing aids
B. Small electronic devices that produce hearing sensations by stimulating the auditory nerve
C. Devices that cure hearing loss permanently
D. Devices only used for conductive hearing loss
Correct Answer: B) Small electronic devices that produce hearing sensations by stimulating
the auditory nerve
Rationale: Cochlear implants are small electronic devices used to produce hearing sensations
for people who are deaf or severely hard of hearing. They bypass damaged parts of the ear and
stimulate the auditory nerve.
9. Which of the following best describes conductive hearing loss?
A. Damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve
B. Sound not efficiently conducted from the outer ear canal to the ear drum
4|Page
TEXES 181 DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES
GRADED A+
TExES 181 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing — Exam Prep Study Guide 2026
SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING (Questions
1–25)
1. Which of the following best explains why it can be important to know if a child's hearing
loss is congenital?
A. To comfort parents who feel responsible for their child's hearing loss
B. To understand whether the hearing loss is likely to get worse over time
C. To determine whether or not there are co-occurring conditions
D. To prepare appropriately for the child's special education placement
Correct Answer: B) To understand whether the hearing loss is likely to get worse over time
Rationale: Knowing whether hearing loss is congenital helps parents and caregivers understand
the course the hearing loss might take over time and prepare for possible future developments.
Option A is incorrect because this knowledge is not likely to comfort parents. Option C is
incorrect because co-occurring conditions must be determined through appropriate testing.
Option D is incorrect because planning the child's education must begin as soon as the loss is
determined, regardless of cause.
1|Page
,Page 2 of 90
2. Which of the following is the most significant difference between American Sign Language
(ASL) and spoken English?
A. The primary articulators of ASL are mostly hidden, but they are obvious in spoken English
B. The primary articulators of ASL are obvious, but they are mostly hidden in spoken English
C. ASL does not have a system of grammar, but spoken English does
D. ASL uses gestures, but spoken English does not
Correct Answer: B) The primary articulators of ASL are obvious, but they are mostly hidden in
spoken English
Rationale: The primary articulators of sign languages (facial expressions and hands) are
normally always visible. In contrast, the oral articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, and jaw) are
difficult to observe. Option A is incorrect because sign language articulators are always visible.
Option C is incorrect because both languages have grammar systems. Option D is incorrect
because English speakers also use gestures.
3. Early hearing intervention and early exposure to language learning for deaf and hard-of-
hearing children is normally associated with:
A. Slow language progress in spite of increased language exposure
B. Significant increases in verbal IQ and achievement scores
C. More efficient vocabulary learning and word use
D. Reading on grade level in the elementary grades
Correct Answer: C) More efficient vocabulary learning and word use
Rationale: Research supports that children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and who receive
early hearing intervention and early exposure to language learning can expand their
vocabularies and learn words at the same rate as children who are not deaf. Option A is
incorrect because early interventions do not equate to slow progress. Option B is incorrect
because IQ scores are not based on learned skills. Option D is incorrect because early
intervention does not often equate to reading on grade level.
2|Page
,Page 3 of 90
4. A teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing is working with a special education teacher for a
student's IEP conference. The special education teacher decides it is necessary to change the
testing accommodations. What is necessary to change this in the IEP?
A. Nothing
B. Class teacher interest
C. Prior written notice
D. Accommodations
Correct Answer: C) Prior written notice
Rationale: Changes and revisions to an IEP require prior written notice. The date, reason, and
description of the changes should be included in the notice provided to the IEP team.
5. Which of the following are the three types of hearing loss?
A. Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed
B. Conductive, central, and functional
C. Sensorineural, peripheral, and mixed
D. Conductive, sensorineural, and functional
Correct Answer: A) Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed
Rationale: The three types of hearing loss are conductive (sound not efficiently conducted from
outer ear to eardrum), sensorineural (damage to inner ear or auditory nerve), and mixed
(combination of both).
6. Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid remains in the inner ear. What effects can this have
on a student?
A. Improved balance and hearing
B. Poor balance and difficulty hearing soft sounds
C. Enhanced hearing sensitivity
D. No noticeable effects
Correct Answer: B) Poor balance and difficulty hearing soft sounds
3|Page
, Page 4 of 90
Rationale: Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid remains in the inner ear, causing poor balance
as fluid fills the Eustachian tubes. The fluid affects balance, which can cause clumsiness, and
makes hearing soft sounds difficult.
7. Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is not efficiently conducted from the outer
ear canal to the ear drum. This type of hearing loss can often be corrected with:
A. Medication
B. Surgery
C. Hearing aids only
D. Cochlear implants
Correct Answer: B) Surgery
Rationale: Conductive hearing loss can often be corrected with surgery. In this type of hearing
loss, the person will have trouble hearing faint sounds and also have a reduction in their sound
levels.
8. What are cochlear implants?
A. External hearing aids
B. Small electronic devices that produce hearing sensations by stimulating the auditory nerve
C. Devices that cure hearing loss permanently
D. Devices only used for conductive hearing loss
Correct Answer: B) Small electronic devices that produce hearing sensations by stimulating
the auditory nerve
Rationale: Cochlear implants are small electronic devices used to produce hearing sensations
for people who are deaf or severely hard of hearing. They bypass damaged parts of the ear and
stimulate the auditory nerve.
9. Which of the following best describes conductive hearing loss?
A. Damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve
B. Sound not efficiently conducted from the outer ear canal to the ear drum
4|Page
