In clinical assessment, what term describes what the patient reports feeling?

• A. Symptoms
• B. Signs
• C. Endpoints
• D. Stability

Answer: (A)

The term describes the patient’s subjective experience. In clinical assessment, symptoms are what the patient reports feeling—things like neck pain, numbness, dizziness, or fatigue. They come from the patient’s own experience and cannot be measured directly with a tool or exam alone; they require listening to the patient and taking a history. This is different from signs, which are objective findings the clinician observes or measures (for example, limited neck motion on exam, reflex changes, or muscle atrophy). Endpoints are outcomes used in studies to define success or failure, not the patient’s personal feeling. Stability refers to a state of steady condition rather than a patient’s reported sensation.