Which finding on the Rinne test indicates normal hearing or sensorineural loss?

Which finding on the Rinne test indicates normal hearing or sensorineural loss?

• A. BC > AC
• B. AC > BC
• C. No sound
• D. Equal conduction

Answer: (B)

Rinne test assesses which pathway carries sound better: air through the ear canal or vibration through the bone behind the ear. In a normal ear, and also in sensorineural loss, air conduction is superior to bone conduction, so you hear the tuning fork next to the ear canal longer than you hear it on the mastoid. That pattern—air conduction lasting longer than bone conduction—means the hearing is normal or SNHL is present, because the issue in SNHL is not in the conductive pathway but in the inner ear or nerve. If bone conduction were heard longer than air conduction, that would point to conductive loss. If no sound is heard at all, it suggests a profound loss.

Rinne test assesses which pathway carries sound better: air through the ear canal or vibration through the bone behind the ear. In a normal ear, and also in sensorineural loss, air conduction is superior to bone conduction, so you hear the tuning fork next to the ear canal longer than you hear it on the mastoid. That pattern—air conduction lasting longer than bone conduction—means the hearing is normal or SNHL is present, because the issue in SNHL is not in the conductive pathway but in the inner ear or nerve. If bone conduction were heard longer than air conduction, that would point to conductive loss. If no sound is heard at all, it suggests a profound loss.