II. Indications: Differentiate Hearing Loss cause
III. Preparation
- Tuning fork should be 512 Hz (preferred) to 1024 Hz
IV. Test: Weber
- Technique: Tuning Fork placed at midline forehead
- Normal: Sound radiates to both ears equally
- Abnormal: Sound lateralizes to one ear
- Ipsilateral Conductive Hearing Loss (louder in the defective ear) OR
- Contralateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss (louder in the unaffected ear)
V. Test: Rinne
- Technique
- First: Bone Conduction
- Vibrating Tuning Fork held on Mastoid
- Patient covers opposite ear with hand
- Patient signals when sound ceases
- Move the vibrating tuning fork over the ear canal
- Near, but not touching the ear
- Next: Air Conduction
- Patient indicates when the sound ceases
- First: Bone Conduction
- Normal: Air Conduction is better than Bone Conduction
- Air conduction usually persists twice as long as bone
- Referred to as "positive test"
- Abnormal: Bone conduction better than air conduction
- Suggests Conductive Hearing Loss
- Referred to as "negative test"