Test For Sensation

TEST FOR SENSATION
BY
ARATHY K M
• The evaluation of sensation is highly dependent on the ability and desire of
the patient to cooperate.
• Sensation belongs to the patient (i.e., is subjective) and the examiner must
therefore depend almost entirely on their patient's ability to perceive,
understand, and accurately communicate their sensory experiences to
different stimuli.
• Exam in this order
• Superficial (Exteroceptive) sensation

• Proprioceptive(deep) sensation
• Combined cortical sensations.
• If the superficial sensation is impaired then some impairment is also seen in
deep and combined sensations.
• Sensory test are done from the distal to the proximal direction.
Superficial sensation
• Pain Perception
• Temperature Awareness
• Touch Awareness
• Pressure Perception
Deep sensation
• Kinesthesia Awareness
• Vibration Perception
Combained sensation
• Stereognosis Perception
• Tactile Localization
• Two-Point Discrimination
• Graphesthesia
• Barognosis
• Pain Perception
It is also known as sharp/dull discrimination. To test this sensation, the sharp

and dull end of any objects like a safety pin, a reshaped paperclip, or
neurological pin is used. The sharp and dull end is randomly applied
perpendicular to the skin, should not be applied too close to each other or in a
too rapid manner to avoid the summation of impulses. The patient is asked
verbally to indicate sharp/dull when a stimulus is felt. All areas of the body
should be tested. After testing the instrument should be sterilized or disposed.
Temperature Awareness
• Two test tubes with stoppers are required for this examination; one should be
filled with the cold water (between 5°C to 10°C) and warm water( 40°C to
45°C). It should be taken care that the temperature should remain within this
range for accuracy. The test tubes are randomly placed in contact with the
skin area to be tested. All skin surfaces should be tested. The patient is
asked to respond hot and cold after each stimulus application.
Touch Awareness
• A piece of cotton, camel-hair brush, or tissue is used to perceive the tactile

touch input. Light touch or stroke is applied in the area to be tested. The
patient is asked to indicate where he/she recognizes that a stimulus has been
applied .
Pressure Perception
• The therapist's fingertip or a double-tipped cotton swab is used to apply a

firm pressure on the skin surface. This test can also be administered using
the thumb and finger to squeeze the Achilles tendon. The patient is asked to
indicate when an applied stimulus is recognized.
Kinesthesia Awareness
• Awareness of movement is known as kinesthesia. The Therapist passively

moves a joint through a relatively small range of motion and the patient is
asked to describe the direction of movement. The patient can also respond
by simultaneously duplicating the movement with the opposite extremity
Proprioception Awareness
• Proprioception includes position sense and awareness of joint at rest. The

joint is moved through a range of motion and held in static position by the
therapist, the patient is asked to describe the position either verbally or by
demonstrating on another limb.
Vibration Perception
• The perception of a vibratory stimulus is tested by placing the base of the

vibrating tuning fork on the bony prominence( sternum, elbow, ankle).
Generally, the tuning fork should be of 128Hz.
Stereognosis Perception
• Tactile object recognition is determined in this test. A familiar object of

different shape and size are required like keys, coins, combs, safety pins,
pencils). A single object is placed in a hand and the patient manipulates it to
identify the object and say it verbally. For speech impairment patients
sensory testing shield can be used.
Two-Point Discrimination
• It determines the ability to perceive two points applied to the skin

simultaneously. Aesthesiometer or the circular two-point discriminator are
the devices to test. The two tips of the instrument are applied to the skin
simultaneously with the tip spread apart. With each successive application,
the two tips are gradually brought closer together until the stimuli are
perceived as one. The small est distance between the stimuli that is still
perceived as two distinct points is measured.
Graphesthesia(Traced Figure Identification)
• The ability to recognize letters, numbers, or designs traced on the skin is

examined using fingertip or the eraser end of the pencil. the patient is asked
verbally the figures drawn on the skin.
• Barognosis( Recognition of weight)
• For the test different weights are used. the therapist may choose to place a
series of different weights in the same hand one at a time, place a different
weight in each hand simultaneously.
THANK YOU

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TEST FOR SENSATION

• Superficial (Exteroceptive) sensation

It is also known as sharp/dull discrimination. To test this sensation, the sharp

• A piece of cotton, camel-hair brush, or tissue is used to perceive the tactile

• The therapist's fingertip or a double-tipped cotton swab is used to apply a

• Awareness of movement is known as kinesthesia. The Therapist passively

• Proprioception includes position sense and awareness of joint at rest. The

• The perception of a vibratory stimulus is tested by placing the base of the

• Tactile object recognition is determined in this test. A familiar object of

• It determines the ability to perceive two points applied to the skin

• The ability to recognize letters, numbers, or designs traced on the skin is

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