The Ten Test is a very simple yet reliable way to assess sensory perception (specifically for light touch and tactile discrimination)
It is an alternative approach to sensory testing that does not rely on instruments
Can be used on conditions/injuries that affect the hand
It involves an examiner touching the unaffected hand and then the affected hand (in the same location) and the patient subjectively reporting the difference in sensation from 1-10
The patient is asked to rate the sensation of the affected part of the hand compared to the same spot on the unaffected/reference hand on a scale of 1 to 10, with "10" being the same sensation as the unaffected/reference hand
Ask the patient, "If this hand (unaffected/reference) feels like 10 out of 10, what does this hand (affected) feel like?"
Document results
A score of 9 or higher means normal sensation, and a score of 8 or lower means abnormal sensation
Overall, the ten test has good accuracy, with results comparable to the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test
References
Chua, M., Seth, I., & Rozen, W. M. (2024). The reliability and applicability of the Ten Test in hand injuries: A systematic review. Hand Therapy, 29(2), 44–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/17589983241230249
Ozdag, Y., Koshinski, J. L., Akoon, A., Garcia, V. C., Dwyer, C. L., Klena, J. C., & Grandizio, L. C. (2025). Reliability and validity of the ten test for the assessment of digit sensation. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 50(4), 442–450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.12.015