In sensorineural hearing loss, Weber test typically lateralizes to which ear?

In sensorineural hearing loss, Weber test typically lateralizes to which ear?

• A. Affected ear
• B. Unaffected ear
• C. Midline
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (B)

The Weber test helps distinguish where bone-conduction sound is loudest when a tuning fork is placed on the midline, revealing unilateral hearing differences. In unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the cochlear or neural pathway on the affected side is impaired, so that ear perceives less sound. The unaffected ear, with intact neural transmission, perceives the sound more loudly. That’s why the tuning fork sounds louder in the unaffected ear. In contrast, a unilateral conductive loss would often make the sound louder in the affected ear due to the occlusion effect and altered bone-conduction perception. If hearing is normal in both ears, the sound is heard equally in both sides.

The Weber test helps distinguish where bone-conduction sound is loudest when a tuning fork is placed on the midline, revealing unilateral hearing differences. In unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the cochlear or neural pathway on the affected side is impaired, so that ear perceives less sound. The unaffected ear, with intact neural transmission, perceives the sound more loudly. That’s why the tuning fork sounds louder in the unaffected ear. In contrast, a unilateral conductive loss would often make the sound louder in the affected ear due to the occlusion effect and altered bone-conduction perception. If hearing is normal in both ears, the sound is heard equally in both sides.