Stenger test

Stenger Test

The Stenger Test is a psychoacoustic test used in audiology to measure unilateral hearing loss. It is named after its inventor, Carl Stenger, a German audiologist. The test is primarily used to detect non-organic or functional hearing loss, often referred to as malingering.

History

The Stenger Test was first introduced in 1907 by Carl Stenger. Stenger was a pioneer in the field of audiology and his test has been widely used for over a century to detect cases of simulated hearing loss.

Principle

The Stenger Test is based on the Stenger Principle, which states that when two identical sounds are presented simultaneously to both ears, only the louder sound is perceived. This principle is used to determine if a person is pretending to have hearing loss in one ear.

Procedure

The Stenger Test is performed using a pure-tone audiometry device. The audiologist presents a tone to the suspected ear at a level that the patient claims not to hear. The same tone is then presented to the other ear at a lower level. If the patient has genuine hearing loss, they will not respond. However, if the patient is malingering, they will respond, thus revealing the deception.

Applications

The Stenger Test is used in both clinical and medico-legal settings. In clinical settings, it helps audiologists to accurately diagnose and manage patients with hearing loss. In medico-legal settings, it is used to detect cases of malingering, where individuals may pretend to have hearing loss for personal gain.

Limitations

While the Stenger Test is a valuable tool in audiology, it has its limitations. It can only detect unilateral non-organic hearing loss and is not effective in cases of bilateral malingering. Furthermore, it requires the patient's active participation and may not be effective if the patient does not cooperate.

See Also

• Audiometry
• Hearing loss
• Psychoacoustics

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