A tuning fork test in a patient shows a negative Rinne in the left ear and a Weber that lateralises to the left. What is the interpretation?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Left conductive hearing loss

  1. Step 1: A negative Rinne means bone conduction is better than air conduction in that ear. Step 2. This points to a conductive problem on the left, and the Weber lateralises to the affected ear in conductive loss. Answer: Left conductive hearing loss. Why not the others: In left sensorineural loss the Weber lateralises to the right and Rinne is positive. A right conductive loss would lateralise to the right. A normal result has a positive Rinne and a central Weber.

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