Weber vs. Rinne Test & Conductive vs. Sensorineural Hearing Loss

My goal is to reduce educational disparities by making education FREE.
These videos help you score extra points on medical school exams (USMLE, COMLEX, etc.)
For educational purposes only; NOT medical or other advice.
Some videos contain mild profanity and hyperbole solely used to assist with memorization. Viewer discretion advised.
Opinions are entirely my own.

[nadaabdulqader]

6 years have passed since this video was uploaded and i still go back to it for revision as it is the best and most concise . Thank you very much

[inneralpha]

If anyone would like to know why air conduction is longer than bone conduction in the first place. Remember the mastoid process is full of air pockets, IT IS NOT 100% SOLID. And sound travels slower and tends to be dampened more in air than in a solid. You may ask how does that make sense if sound is traveling only through the air when we remove the tuning fork from the mastoid. The reason is that the malleus, incus, and stapes are designed in such a way as to AMPLIFY sound coming from the air and that increases the ability of the neurons in the cochlea to sense sound from the moving lymph. Because the sound is being amplified from the air, it lasts longer than if sound was moving through the mastoid process which is full of air cells. Maybe someone is curious and it's the least I can do for this helpful video. I hope it helps someone.

[musicislove]

I'm an MS3 and this is the first time these tests have made sense to me. THANK YOU!!

[johnbarba]

Patient with hearing issues:
Step 1: Rinne 
Rinne (BC>AC) = Conductive hearing loss in that ear --> Done
Rinne (AC>BC) = Not conductive hearing loss --> use Weber to localize sensiorneural hearing loss


Step 2: if Rinne (AC>BC) --> Weber for SNHL
Weber Louder ear is good ear--right if they can hear it, ear is working
Weber softer ear is bad ear --> SNHL

Great video !

[sandro]

Thank you, Amazing easy explanation.
I think that one thing is missing: when there is conductive hearing loss 1. yes in Rinne test BC > AC in the affected ear, plus 2. in Weber test (same patient, same conductive defect) sound will be more audible on affected side. so I'm saying that in the conductive hearing loss both Rinne and Weber tests are abnormal.

[LemansSunset]

Omg I couldn’t understand this concept for the longest time and now I totally understand it after watching your video. Thank you so much!

[delaseoul]

"Weber it's right or left" is GOLD...I bet you're good at making dad jokes.

[KaylaByrne-xl]

I mean this so sincerely - you are the reason I am surviving medical school! Thank you!

[il]

I can’t express enough the perfection of this explanation. Thank you!

[reszyjay]

This is by far the BEST explanation EVER!!! I’ve been avoiding delving into this seemingly confusing topic since I was in med school. Thank you much!!!

[Baohbun]

I have always struggled to remember the tests but to simplify things, try imagining yourself with complete conductive hearing loss or sensorineural hearing loss:

First, perform Rinne:
1. We know Rinne test mainly tests for conductive hearing loss. If Rinne test is negative (abnormal) on one side, that means your air conduction is not working, i.e. bone conduction works better than air conduction. This happens when you have a blockage in the outer ear, so the sound doesnt get transmitted through the chain of ossicles to the cochlear. = Conductive hearing loss

Then, perform Weber:
2. If Weber test makes you hear louder on that same side of the ear, that confirms the conductive hearing loss. (try shutting your ear with your hand in a quiet room and say something) you always hear louder with conductive hearing loss, softer with sensorineural loss.

3. If Weber test makes you hear louder on the other side, it could indicate sensorineural hearing loss on the first side of the ear. Because you pretty much can't hear anything on the ear you just tested, maybe the cochlear/nerve is dead, so only the other ear can hear something. Tricky part is, there could also be conductive hearing loss on this other ear (remember you hear louder when your ear is blocked), therefore it's hard to distinguish when this happens, best to perform audiogram to confirm.

I think there are many variations and possibilities to this but hopefully this simple idea/concept help you pass your exams XD, in practice you will end up asking them to do audiogram or refer to ENT if concerning anyway

[aylint-od]

7 years old and still you are the best @Dirty!

[iyanel]

Wow! I am clutching this high yield concept with 3 days left as I take the Philippine National Licensure Examination (PNLE). Very helpful. I will comeback to this once I passed my exam! :)

[SaraH-rdi]

Thank youuuu!! This is the first time these tests have made sense to me.

[rnhim]

Thank you so much, I have no idea why the so-called expert professors at my med school can't explain this concept in an easy-to-follow way like you just did.

[annettel]

I’ve watched so many videos about it. Finally, I got it. Thank you so much!

[akanjolly]

OMG THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH.. you saved my huge amount of time by this 5:40 min of video.. really made it supereasy !

[sapnapatani]

Wow just wow literally you made a topic of number of pages into a simple one page concept so... good I mean my professor was explaining this thing since 1 hour still i was confused and you are a genius ♥️

[ampanchal]

I have been trying to understand it since first year of my medschool, but I never understand. And this guy fixed it in my mind within 2 minutes ! Thanks man... I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[lisagonzalez]

A very good explanation. Loved the mnemonics. I will sure never forget this now.