Which test would be used to compare bone conduction and air conduction?

Which test would be used to compare bone conduction and air conduction?

• A. Weber test.
• B. Romberg test.
• C. Audiogram.
• D. Rinne test.

Answer: (D)

When you need to tell whether a hearing loss is due to a problem in the outer or middle ear (conductive) or in the inner ear or auditory nerve (sensorineural), you use the Rinne test. It directly compares bone conduction to air conduction using a tuning fork. You strike the fork and place it on the mastoid bone until the sound can no longer be heard, then move it close to the ear canal. If the sound is heard longer in front of the ear (air conduction) than on the bone, this is a normal finding and suggests either normal hearing or sensorineural loss. If the sound is heard longer on the bone than in front of the ear, that indicates conductive hearing loss because air conduction is dampened by a problem in the outer or middle ear. The Weber test, Romberg test, and audiogram each address other aspects: Weber helps lateralize sound for unilateral loss, Romberg assesses balance, and an audiogram provides a full hearing threshold profile. So the test that specifically compares bone conduction to air conduction is the Rinne test.

When you need to tell whether a hearing loss is due to a problem in the outer or middle ear (conductive) or in the inner ear or auditory nerve (sensorineural), you use the Rinne test. It directly compares bone conduction to air conduction using a tuning fork. You strike the fork and place it on the mastoid bone until the sound can no longer be heard, then move it close to the ear canal. If the sound is heard longer in front of the ear (air conduction) than on the bone, this is a normal finding and suggests either normal hearing or sensorineural loss. If the sound is heard longer on the bone than in front of the ear, that indicates conductive hearing loss because air conduction is dampened by a problem in the outer or middle ear. The Weber test, Romberg test, and audiogram each address other aspects: Weber helps lateralize sound for unilateral loss, Romberg assesses balance, and an audiogram provides a full hearing threshold profile. So the test that specifically compares bone conduction to air conduction is the Rinne test.