The Stenger test is used to detect:

• A Non-organic (functional/feigned) unilateral hearing loss ✓
• B Conductive hearing loss
• C Recruitment in sensorineural hearing loss
• D Auditory fatigue in acoustic neuroma

Explanation

The Stenger test exploits the binaural principle: when the same frequency tone is presented to both ears simultaneously, only the louder one is perceived. In a patient feigning unilateral deafness, presenting the tone at a suprathreshold level in the 'deaf' ear causes them to deny hearing it in either ear — a positive Stenger, indicating non-organic hearing loss. Recruitment is tested by SISI and Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance. Auditory fatigue is tested by tone decay tests.

Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.