Ear and audiology: Stenger test: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: Stenger test

Sample item

A 30-year-old man pursuing a compensation claim reports total right deafness, yet follows ordinary conversation without difficulty. To expose non-organic unilateral loss, the audiologist plays the same tone to both ears at different intensities and observes whether he responds. Which test is this?

ABing testBStenger testCRinne testDGelle test

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Stenger test

In the Stenger test, when identical tones reach both ears, only the louder one is perceived. The tone is made louder in the allegedly deaf ear: a person with true deafness there still hears the tone in the good ear and responds, but a person feigning loss perceives only the louder tone, denies hearing anything and stops responding. It detects feigned unilateral hearing loss.

Option by option

A. Bing test
The Bing test studies the occlusion effect on bone conduction to separate conductive from sensorineural loss.
B. Stenger test (correct)
Correct. The Stenger test uses the principle that only the louder of two identical tones is heard, exposing feigned loss.
C. Rinne test
The Rinne test compares air and bone conduction in one ear and cannot show that loss is non-organic.
D. Gelle test
The Gelle test assesses stapes mobility by raising canal pressure and has no role in detecting malingering.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Stenger test. In the Stenger test, when identical tones reach both ears, only the louder one is perceived.

Why is "Bing test" not the answer?

The Bing test studies the occlusion effect on bone conduction to separate conductive from sensorineural loss.

Why is "Rinne test" not the answer?

The Rinne test compares air and bone conduction in one ear and cannot show that loss is non-organic.

Why is "Gelle test" not the answer?

The Gelle test assesses stapes mobility by raising canal pressure and has no role in detecting malingering.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: Stenger test in ENT. The tone is made louder in the allegedly deaf ear: a person with true deafness there still hears the tone in the good ear and responds, but a person feigning loss perceives only the louder tone, denies hearing anything and stops responding. It detects feigned unilateral hearing loss.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: Stenger test?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.