CDT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Why is individualized instruction important for students with dyslexia? → It allows the teacher to address the specific challenges of each student.
2. According to Dehaene's research, the 'visual word form area' in skilled readers becomes specialized for: → Rapidly recognizing the visual patterns of familiar words
3. An open syllable is one that: → Ends with a vowel sound, which typically produces the long vowel sound
4. What should a practitioner do when regulations conflict with employer policies? → Follow the regulation, as legal requirements supersede employer policies
5. What is the best practice for documenting assessment findings? → Record findings objectively using measurable criteria immediately after assessment
6. How does early intervention help children with dyslexia? → It helps reduce reading difficulties and improves overall academic performance.
7. When faced with a conflict of interest, what is the appropriate course of action? → Disclose the conflict and recuse yourself from the situation
8. How does maintaining proper credentials demonstrate regulatory compliance? → It proves the practitioner has met all requirements for legal practice
9. Why is regular preventive maintenance important? → It extends equipment life, ensures accuracy, and prevents unexpected failures
10. Which deficit would MOST interfere with a student's ability to benefit from orthographic mapping? → Weak phonemic awareness and phonological processing
11. Blending, as a phonological skill, is the process of: → Combining individual phonemes together to pronounce a recognizable word
12. Working memory is critically important in reading because it allows a reader to: → Hold decoded word parts in mind while blending them into a complete word
13. What is the primary obligation of a certified professional regarding patient/client confidentiality? → Protect all personal information and disclose only with proper authorization
14. Why is explicit instruction important in structured literacy? → It helps students understand language rules and apply them.
15. In Shaywitz's research, which brain reading pathway is UNDERACTIVATED in readers with dyslexia during word recognition tasks? → The posterior left-hemisphere occipito-temporal 'word form area'
16. Phonological awareness includes the understanding that: → Spoken words are composed of smaller sound units that can be identified and manipulated
17. Which term describes the ability to recognize and manipulate the smallest units of sound in spoken words? → Phonemic awareness
18. What is the clinical significance of understanding nerve pathways? → It prevents inadvertent nerve damage and guides proper technique
19. What should be the focus of an intervention plan for dyslexia? → Addressing the specific challenges in reading and language processing.
20. What is the correct response to suspected equipment malfunction? → Remove from service immediately, tag as defective, and report to maintenance
21. What is the purpose of a treatment plan review? → To evaluate progress and adjust interventions as needed
22. Digraphs are defined as: → Two letters — consonants or vowels — that together represent one phoneme
23. Which federal law requires schools to provide parents with information about their child's special education eligibility and services? → IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
24. What constitutes a boundary violation in professional practice? → Engaging in dual relationships that could impair professional judgment
25. What is the primary purpose of conducting a comprehensive patient assessment in Certified Dental Technicians practice? → To establish baseline measurements and identify treatment needs
26. Phoneme manipulation refers to: → Deliberately adding, deleting, or substituting phonemes within spoken words
27. Which of the following is a therapeutic technique commonly used for dyslexia? → Multisensory techniques and reading programs.
28. How does a teacher decide on the most appropriate intervention for a student with dyslexia? → By assessing the student's needs and selecting a targeted intervention.
29. A grapheme is best defined as: → A letter or combination of letters that represents a single phoneme
30. A vowel-consonant-e (VCe) syllable type is also commonly called a: → Magic e or silent e syllable