ABA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ABA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The primary goal of auditory training in aural rehabilitation is to: → Improve the listener's ability to process and interpret auditory signals through practice
2. What is the primary use of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)? → Test cochlear function
3. What is the importance of continuing education for ABA professionals in Preventive Maintenance Procedures? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
4. A child using a cochlear implant in an educational setting would MOST benefit from which additional technology to improve the signal-to-noise ratio? → A personal FM or Roger system coupled to the implant processor
5. Which circuit element in a hearing aid output stage limits maximum acoustic output to protect residual hearing? → An automatic gain control (AGC) or output limiting circuit
6. An audiologist works in a school setting and suspects a child is being physically abused. What is the appropriate course of action? → Report the suspicion to child protective services as required by mandatory reporting laws
7. Which speech recognition score threshold is commonly used as part of adult CI candidacy evaluation? → Less than 60% on aided CNC word recognition
8. In cochlear implant programming, what does 'T-level' (threshold level) refer to? → The minimum level of electrical stimulation that produces a just-audible percept
9. Which finding would indicate a peripheral (vs. central) vestibular lesion based on spontaneous nystagmus characteristics? → Horizontal nystagmus that is inhibited by visual fixation
10. When testing a patient suspected of cochlear dead regions, the most appropriate method is: → Threshold Equalizing Noise (TEN) test
11. What is the hierarchy of controls in ABA risk management? → Elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, then PPE
12. What is the role of early intervention in hearing loss? → To enhance developmental outcomes
13. Which component of a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid most commonly requires replacement during routine maintenance visits? → The receiver wire and tip due to cerumen accumulation and physical stress
14. TEOAEs are typically absent in ears with hearing sensitivity poorer than approximately: → 30 dB HL
15. The term 'audibility index' in pediatric hearing aid fitting refers to: → The proportion of the speech spectrum that is audible with amplification
16. Which finding on ABR testing is most consistent with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD)? → Absent or severely abnormal ABR with present cochlear microphonic and/or OAEs
17. An audiologist cannot launch their fitting software after a Windows OS update. The most likely cause is: → A driver or compatibility conflict introduced by the OS update
18. What is the treatment of choice for posterior canal BPPV? → Epley canalith repositioning maneuver
19. Which otoacoustic emission type is most commonly used to screen newborn hearing? → Transient evoked OAE (TEOAE)
20. Bone conduction bypasses which component of the auditory transmission drivetrain? → The outer and middle ear
21. Which structure in the cochlea is the target for cochlear implant electrode array insertion? → Scala tympani
22. During a software update of an audiometer's calibration software, the technician should: → Perform a biological calibration check after the update to verify acoustic output accuracy
23. What is a needs assessment in ABA Preventive Maintenance Procedures practice? → Identifying gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes
24. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) typically presents with which audiometric finding? → Low-frequency conductive hearing loss with normal or supra-normal bone conduction
25. A patient shows absent acoustic reflexes bilaterally at all frequencies with normal tympanograms. The most likely site of lesion is: → Auditory nerve or brainstem
26. What is peer review in ABA Preventive Maintenance Procedures? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
27. What does a 'camshaft duration' specification describe? → The number of crankshaft degrees the valve stays open
28. In auditory steady-state response (ASSR) testing, responses are recorded at stimulus modulation rates of 80–100 Hz to minimize interference from: → Alpha brain waves
29. The leakage current limit for Type BF (body floating) patient-applied electrodes used in auditory evoked potential testing is: → 10 μA
30. Why is case history important in audiologic assessment? → To guide diagnosis and testing