Interpreting Weber and Rinne tests: Conductive versus sensorineural hearing loss
Interpreting Weber and Rinne tests: Conductive versus sensorineural hearing loss
Weber lateralizes
Rinne test
Conductive loss
Good ear
AC > BC
Bad ear
To bad ear
BC > AC
Sensorineural loss
Good ear
To good ear
AC > BC
Bad ear
AC > BC*
AC > BC: Air conduction better than bone conduction (normal Rinne). BC > AC: Bone conduction better than air conduction (abnormal Rinne). * For patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss, the patient may report BC > AC because the sound is being sensed by the "good" (contralateral) ear.