BC-HIS study guide
BC-HIS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (BC-HIS) credential is a professional certification for hearing instrument specialists - the practitioners who evaluate hearing, select and fit amplification, and provide ongoing care to patients with hearing loss. It is typically pursued by specialists who already hold state licensure or are completing supervised clinical training, and it signals to employers and the public that the holder has met a national standard of knowledge beyond entry-level licensing. The BC-HIS study guide has 6 sections and about 1,526 words.
01Basic Sciences and Acoustics
Sound is a pressure wave; the decibel is a ratio , not an absolute unit. Sound pressure level uses 20 µPa as reference, so dB SPL = 20 log10(p/p₀).
350 words, about 2 min02Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System
The pinna and ear canal funnel sound; the canal's resonance provides ~10–15 dB gain near 2–4 kHz. The tympanic membrane transfers energy to the ossicular chain (malleus, incus, stapes).
291 words, about 1 min03Disorders of Hearing and Audiologic Assessment
Conductive loss involves outer/middle ear; sensorineural involves cochlea or retrocochlear pathway; mixed combines both. Air-bone gaps indicate conductive components.
232 words, about 1 min04Hearing Instrument Technology and Electroacoustics
Modern instruments digitize sound, apply gain via compression, and output through a receiver. Key parameters: gain (output minus input), maximum output (SSPL90), frequency response, compression threshold, compression ratio, attack and release times, and expansion for low-level noise.
237 words, about 1 min05Hearing Instrument Fitting, Verification, and Follow-Up Care
Use validated prescriptive targets (e.g., NAL-NL2, DSL v5) matched to the patient's audiogram and preferences. Verify with real-ear measurement (REM): real-ear aided response (REAR), real-ear insertion gain (REIG), and real-ear unaided response (REUR).
198 words, under 1 min06Professional, Ethical, and Regulatory Practice
Practice within scope of licensure and certification. Follow professional codes of ethics: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, confidentiality, and informed consent.
218 words, about 1 min