A child next to a loud speaker
The masked air conduction hearing test is used to test the accuracy level of a person's hearing. It can also be used to gauge the level of hearing loss a person may be experiencing.
History
The official medical name for the masked air conduction hearing test is the Rinne test. Its origins date back to the early 1800s.
Function
During the Rinne test, a tuning fork that is vibrating is placed separately on the bone just inside the inner ear and then outside the ear. Which of these two locations results in better sound quality for the person being tested can be used to gauge hearing loss.
Normal
A person with normal hearing ability will hear the vibrating tuning fork better when placed next to her ear than when directly touching the inner ear bone.
Conductive
If a person is experiencing conductive loss of hearing, he will hear the tuning fork better when placed on the inner ear bone than when placed next to the ear.
Sensorineural
If a person is experiencing sensorineural loss of hearing, she will hear the tuning fork equally well when placed next to her ear and on the bone inside of it.
Treatment
Once the extent of hearing loss is determined, a physician will determine the next step. There is no medical cure for the types of hearing loss identified by the masked air conduction hearing test, though patients may be recommended to purchase some kind of hearing aid device.
Tags: hearing loss, tuning fork, when placed, conduction hearing, hearing test
