Clinical Examples

The tuning fork is placed on the mastoid and then moved to the outside of the left and right ears (Rinne Test). The patient reports they hear the tuning fork better when held in the air next to the ears. The tuning fork is placed on top of the head and asks the patient to lateralize the sound. The patient reports they hear the fork better in the right ear. 

Result/Diagnosis: Left sensorineural hearing loss.

Recall: normal Rinne (AC > BC), abnormal Weber for the left ear and bone conduction, abnormal left

The tuning fork is placed on the mastoid and then moved to the outside of the left and right ears (Rinne Test). The patient reports they hear the tuning fork better when held in the air next to the ears. The tuning fork is placed on top of the head and asks the patient to lateralize the sound. The patient reports they hear the fork better in the left ear.

Result/Diagnosis: Right sensorineural hearing loss.

Recall: normal Rinne (AC > BC), abnormal Weber for the right ear and bone conduction, abnormal right.

The tuning fork is placed on the mastoid and then moved to the outside of the left and right ears (Rinne Test). The patient reports they hear the tuning fork better when held on the mastoid than in the air next to the ears. The tuning fork is placed on top of the head and asks the patient to lateralize the sound. The patient reports they hear the fork better in the right ear. 

Result/Diagnosis: Left conductive hearing loss.

Recall: abnormal Rinne (BC > AC) which means there’s an air conduction hearing loss, abnormal Weber for the left ear.

The tuning fork is placed on the mastoid and then moved to the outside of the left and right ears (Rinne Test). The patient reports they hear the tuning fork better when held on the mastoid than in the air next to the ears. The tuning fork is placed on top of the head and asks the patient to lateralize the sound. The patient reports they hear the fork better in the left ear. 

Result/Diagnosis: Right conductive hearing loss.

Remember:  Abnormal Rhine (BC > AC) which means there’s an air conduction hearing loss, abnormal Weber for the right ear.