Free COMS Practice Questions

Question 1

On a smooth concourse, an adult repeatedly misses shallow drop-offs with two-point touch. The COMS confirms comfortable cane length, consistent rhythm, and an arc that covers the walking path; the missed edges fall between the tip's two contact points. Which change most directly addresses the observed problem?

Accepted Answer

Trial constant contact using a tip suited to this surface.

Answer

Widen the arc so each tap lands farther outside the walking path.

Answer

Lengthen the cane without changing the surface-contact pattern.

Answer

Narrow the arc so the tip taps closer to each advancing foot.

Question 2

An audiology report gives these right-ear findings at the same tested frequencies:
Air-conduction threshold: 65 dB HL.
Bone-conduction threshold: 35 dB HL.
The audiologist confirms reliable responses and appropriate masking. Which interpretation of the hearing-loss type is supported?

Accepted Answer

Mixed loss: both sensorineural and conductive components are present.

Answer

Conductive loss: transmission failure fully explains the deficit.

Answer

Sensorineural loss: impaired bone conduction excludes an additional conductive component.

Answer

Unclassified loss: word-recognition scores are required before the type can be determined.

Question 3

The immediate goal for a preschooler who has been blind since birth is to connect separately learned bus parts into a whole. The child can identify a wheel, door, and seat by touch but has not explored their relationships. With a parked, secured bus available, which activity should come first?

Accepted Answer

Explore the real bus's structure, then connect its parts to a simple model.

Answer

Rehearse the names of the parts until the child can recall them in any order.

Answer

Practice a consistent boarding sequence from the entrance to the passenger seat.

Answer

Introduce a detailed tactile diagram with separate symbols for each named part.

Question 4

A 78-year-old with stable low vision reports two recent falls at poorly contrasted curbs. A physical therapist records a Timed Up and Go result of 9.4 seconds using the standard 3-meter course, usual footwear and walking aid, and normal walking pace. How should the COMS integrate this finding with the fall history?

Accepted Answer

Investigate the curb-related falls despite a TUG below the screening threshold.

Answer

Treat the falls as isolated incidents because the TUG does not flag increased fall risk.

Answer

Require escorted community travel until a repeat screening.

Answer

Attribute the falls to visual loss because the TUG has excluded gait and balance contributors.

Question 5

An adult with a documented central scotoma from macular degeneration locates a storefront but loses parts of its sign when looking directly at the letters. During a low-vision assessment, the letters become readable when the person looks slightly beside them. Which strategy specifically uses this demonstrated area of usable vision?

Accepted Answer

Use eccentric viewing to spot the sign while stationary.

Answer

Enlarge the sign until its letters fill the central visual field.

Answer

Make wider head scans, returning each letter to central fixation.

Answer

Use sustained direct fixation on individual letters.

Question 6

"My dog gets me around people, but I cannot tell which entrance is mine or how to return to the bus." An experienced handler describes this problem at a new workplace. Observation confirms effective obstacle avoidance and curb stops but confusion between similar entrances. The COMS should concentrate instruction on which element?

Accepted Answer

Establish distinctive route anchors linking the stop, intended entrance, and return journey.

Answer

Rehearse the dog's familiar turn commands at both entrances until its responses are consistent.

Answer

Supply every turn during repeated trips, treating accurate arrival as evidence of route knowledge.

Answer

Arrange a guide-dog program reassessment before introducing further workplace orientation.

Question 7

A student completes a familiar school route when the COMS walks ahead but follows the instructor's footsteps past the planned turn when the instructor takes a different path. The enclosed hallway permits effective monitoring from behind, and the student has demonstrated the necessary cane and protective skills. Which observation arrangement would give the clearest evidence of independent landmark use?

Accepted Answer

Monitor from behind without directional cues, maintaining the agreed safety plan.

Answer

Continue walking ahead, but give a verbal reminder whenever the student nears a landmark.

Answer

Walk alongside, confirming each turn before it occurs.

Answer

Lead the route once more, then ask the student to name its landmarks without walking it.

Question 8

A traveler with Usher syndrome understands both visual and tactile sign language. At dusk, visual signing is no longer reliable. The traveler and COMS have already established accessible stop signals and safe places for conversation. When a changed route requires a detailed explanation, which communication arrangement preserves access without unnecessarily abandoning the lesson?

Accepted Answer

Pause in a protected location and explain the change through tactile signing.

Answer

Keep signing visually, but shorten the explanation to one turn at a time.

Answer

Use the familiar stop and turn touch cues in place of the detailed explanation.

Answer

Defer outdoor instruction until the traveler can receive detailed messages while walking.

Question 9

A learner must cross an unsignalized channelized right-turn lane to reach an island, then cross the main road. The accessible pedestrian signal on the island serves only the main-road crosswalk. Its WALK message begins while the learner is still waiting before the turn lane. Before entering that lane, the learner must establish:

Accepted Answer

That a usable gap or yielding traffic permits the turn-lane crossing.

Answer

That the main-road WALK interval has enough time remaining for both crossings.

Answer

That vehicles traveling parallel to the main-road crosswalk have started moving.

Answer

That the learner's heading matches the arrow for the main-road crosswalk.

Question 10

A wall-mounted display case has the following dimensions in a U.S. building circulation path covered by the ADA Standards:
Horizontal projection into the path: 6 inches.
Height of its lower leading edge: 50 inches.
There is no cane-detectable element beneath it. Select the modification that corrects the noncompliant projection at that height.

Accepted Answer

Recess the case so its projection into the circulation path is 3 inches.

Answer

Keep the 6-inch projection and add a high-contrast strip along the lower edge.

Answer

Keep the 6-inch projection and raise the lower leading edge to 72 inches.

Answer

Lower the case's leading edge to 30 inches while keeping its 6-inch projection.

Free COMS Practice Questions

Domain 1: Professional Information and Resources and Teaching and Learning in O&M 11% of exam

Question 1

Domain 2: Relevant Medical Information 8% of exam

Question 2

Domain 3: O&M Assessment, Program Design and Delivery and Environmental Assessment and Modification 15% of exam

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 4: O&M-related Concepts 8% of exam

Question 5

Domain 5: Orientation Skills and Strategies 12% of exam

Question 6

Domain 6: Mobility Skills and Strategies 17% of exam

Question 7

Question 8

Domain 7: Use of Senses 8% of exam

Question 9

Domain 8: Clients with Additional Disabilities and Diverse Clients 9% of exam

Question 10

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