Conductive Hearing Loss Test

To diagnose conductive unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a healthcare professional performs a physical examination using an otoscope and conducts pure-tone audiometry. Tuning fork tests like the Rinne and Weber tests may also be used to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

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A positive Rinne test occurs when one ear's bone conduction (heard through the mastoid bone) is perceived as louder or as long as air conduction (heard through the ear canal). This result suggests conductive hearing loss.

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Conductive hearing loss is measured through various tests, including pure-tone audiometry to evaluate hearing thresholds, tuning fork tests like the Rinne and Weber tests to assess bone and air conduction, and tympanometry to evaluate middle and proper ear function.