In sensory testing with a tuning fork, which statement is correct?

• A. The examiner should move on after one test
• B. The examiner should rely on other modalities only
• C. The examiner should ignore patient feedback
• D. The examiner should ask them what they feel and tell us when it stops

Answer: (D)

In sensory testing with a tuning fork, the key is to involve the patient’s perception directly. You place the vibrating tuning fork on a bony area and ask the patient to tell you when they first feel the vibration and when it stops, then compare that on both sides. This gives a clear endpoint and lets you assess whether vibration sense is intact or diminished, and whether there is symmetrical loss. It also helps distinguish normal sensation from reduced or absent vibration, which could indicate peripheral neuropathy or dorsal column involvement. The other approaches fall short because one test alone misses asymmetry, relying on the examiner’s judgment rather than the patient’s reported experience, and ignoring the essential feedback that defines how the patient perceives the sensation.