A method for assessing the state of a sensor. The sensor comprises a deflectable micromechanical sensor structure for detecting a physical input variable and converting the physical input variable into an electrical sensor signal. A medium surrounding the sensor acts on the micromechanical sensor structure. The micromechanical sensor structure is deflectable using an excitation signal. The method includes: generating an excitation signal using a driver unit; outputting the excitation signal to the micromechanical sensor structure; deflecting the micromechanical sensor structure using the excitation signal; detecting a response behavior of the micromechanical sensor structure in response to the excitation signal; comparing the response behavior to a reference behavior to determine a measure of deviation for the response behavior in relation to the reference behavior; and assessing, based on the measure of deviation, the state of the sensor with respect to the presence of a deposit.