Rinne's and Weber's

Question 1

What does conductive hearing loss mean?

Answer 1

There is pathology of the external or middle ear 
eg 
Wax
Acute otitis media
Otosclerosis

Question 2

What does sensorineural hearing loss mean?

Answer 2

There is pathology of the inner ear or CNVIII
eg
Presbyacusis
Noise related
Ototoxic medication
Acoustic neuroma

Question 3

What is Weber’s test?

Answer 3

• Compares bony conduction on both sides
  Equally loud in both ears: Normal or bilateral hearing loss
  Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: Sound is louder on unaffected side
  Unilateral conductive hearing loss: Sound is louder on affected side as no filtering of sound from other sources

Question 4

What is Rinne’s test?

Answer 4

Tests air conduction (better) vs bone conduction
Conductive hearing loss - Patient cannot hear sound via air conduction (NEGATIVE test)
Sensorineural hearing loss - Patient can hear sound via air conduction (POSITIVE test)
Normal = Positive