Final answer:
To assess a patient's ability to sense vibration during a neurological exam, a neurologist uses a 128 Hz tuning fork, placing it on bony prominences and asking the patient about their sensations. This test is critical for identifying deficits in the sensory pathways of the nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
When testing the sensory system during a neuro exam, a neurologist assesses a patient's ability to sense vibration using a 128 Hz tuning fork. The correct method for evaluating this aspect of sensory function is placing a 128 Hz tuning fork over a bone. This is because bone conduction is a reliable pathway for the sensation of vibration to travel to the sensory cortex.
To conduct this test, the tuning fork is struck to start the vibration and then placed on various bony prominences such as the distal interphalangeal joint of a finger or the ankle bone. The patient is asked to indicate when they feel the vibration start and stop. This test helps identify deficits in somatosensory pathways that can be due to conditions affecting the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, or brain.
The assessment of vibration sensation is an important component of the neurological examination as it can help diagnose conditions like peripheral neuropathy or other neurological deficits. It is one part of a comprehensive evaluation that includes other submodalities of sensory testing like touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. These sensory tests collectively contribute to a clinician's understanding of a patient's neurological function.