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Rinne's test - is named after Adolf Rinne of Gottingen, who described this
test in 1855 (1)
- it compares the patients ability to hear a tone conducted
via air and bone - the mastoid process.
- the base of a vibrating 512Hz
tuning fork is first placed on the mastoid process and then after the sound is
no longer appreciated the vibrating top is held one inch from the external auditory
meatus (1)
- the patient is asked whether the sound is louder behind or
in front - referring to bone and air conduction respectively
- normally the
note is audible at the external meatus
- when nerve deafness is present
then the note is audible at the external meatus, as air and bone conduction are
reduced equally, so that the air conduction is better (as is normal) than bone
conduction - this is termed Rinne-positive
- Rinne-negative occurs
with a conductive hearing loss - no note is audible at the external meatus (i.e.
bone conduction is better than air conduction)
Note:
the following should be observed: - strike the tuning fork against the
knee or the elbow, not the table, otherwise the vibrations will be excessive and
cause the patient discomfort
- hold the fork for 2-3 seconds to allow sufficient
time to make a mental note of the stimulus intensity
Click
here for video showing Rinne and Weber testing
Reference:
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