7.1.5 Weber's and Rinne's Test Flashcards
When do we use Weber’s and Rinne’s tests?
To detect whether unilateral hearing deficits are conductive or sensorineural
What does conductive hearing loss indicate?
Pathology localised to external or middle ear region
What does sensorineural hearing loss indicate?
Inner ear or CNVIII pathology
What frequency is the tuning fork?
512Hz
Complete the table
Why are sounds louder in conductive hearing loss on the affected side in Webers?
Ambient noise from external environment normally masks the vibration from placing fork on top of the head
If there is middle/external ear pathology loses the masking influence of the ambient noise, so its louder on the affected side
Sound lateralises to affected ear due to loss of ambient noise masking
Why is sound louder on the unaffected side in a sensorineural pathology in Webers?
Vibration and conduction of sound through bone to cochlea, cochlea is less receptive to sounds reaching it due to inner ear pathology
Normal side is unaffected, therefore louder on normal ear
Sound lateralises to normal ear
How can we determine if there is a conductive issue with one ear or sensorineural issue with the other ear?
Rinne’s test
How does Rinne’s test work?
Air conduction is better than bone as the external ear funnels sound to the middle ear where it is amplified
Normal ear- Air conduction is louder
Pathology- Bone conduction is louder
How do you do Rinne’s test?
Place on mastoid process
Then place 1cm from ear
Normal, air should be louder
If bone conduction is louder what does this mean?
There is a conductive pathology, external or middle ear
Why do you get false positive rinnes test in sensorineural hearing loss?
External ear and middle ear still conduct and amplify sound to inner ear correctly
Way to remember which test is which
Weber’s test
-Bone test
-B is in the middle, like when we place tuning fork in the middle of the forehead
So Rinne’s must be the other
