How to perform the Stenger test with Equinox Evo

Equinox Evo Support

A patient response button

Calibrated headphones or insert phones

Choose settings for Stenger using the input and output for channel 1 and channel 2 as illustrated below (Figure 1).

Typically, the instruction to the patient is not different than with normal pure tone audiometry. The patient does not need to be informed that stimuli are presented at both ears simultaneously.

Use channel 1 for the poorer ear and set the intensity level 10 dB below the claimed threshold.

Use channel 2 for presenting tones to the better ear and set the intensity level 10 dB above the threshold.

Present the tones to both ears simultaneously. Keep the intensity level of the better ear fixed and increase the intensity for the poorer ear in 5-dB steps.

If the hearing loss in the poorer ear is genuine, the patient will keep responding to the signal, as it is perceived in the better ear (negative Stenger). In case of a non-organic hearing loss, the patient will stop responding when the level exceeds the claimed threshold of the poorer ear (positive Stenger).