The physician may use a _______ to assess a patient's ability to detect sound vibrations.

The tuning fork is a tool commonly used in medical examinations to evaluate a patient's ability to perceive sound vibrations. This instrument produces a clear, vibrating sound when struck, allowing healthcare providers to assess the function of a patient's hearing.

In practice, a tuning fork can help in distinguishing between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. When the tines of the tuning fork vibrate, they create sound waves that can be transmitted through the air or directly through bone, which is crucial for testing hearing function. By comparing air conduction to bone conduction, medical professionals can gather important information about a patient's auditory health.

The other options, while useful in their respective areas, do not function in the same way when it comes to assessing sound vibrations. Hearing aids amplify sound for those who already have hearing loss, stethoscopes are primarily used to listen to internal body sounds such as the heartbeat and lung sounds, and otoscopes are used to examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane. Each has its own specific application, but for testing the detection of sound vibrations specifically, the tuning fork is the appropriate choice.