Normal Findings In:

• Normal air and bone conduction in both ears; no evidence of hearing loss
• Bing test: Pulsating sound that gets louder and softer when the opening to the ear canal is alternately opened and closed (Note: This result, observed in patients with normal hearing, is also observed in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.)
• Rinne test: Longer and louder tone heard by air conduction than by bone conduction (Note: This result, observed in patients with normal hearing, is also observed in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.)
• Schwabach test: Same tone loudness heard equally long by the examiner and the patient
• Weber test: Same tone loudness heard equally in both ears

Abnormal Findings In:

• Conduction hearing loss related to or evidenced by:
  • Impacted cerumen
  • Obstruction of external ear canal (presence of a foreign body)
  • Otitis externa (infection in ear canal)
  • Otitis media (poor eustachian tube function or infection)
  • Otitis media serous (fluid in middle ear due to allergies or a cold)
  • Otosclerosis
  • Bing test: No change in the loudness of the sound
  • Rinne test: Tone louder or detected for a longer time than the air-conducted tone
  • Schwabach test: Prolonged duration of tone when compared to that heard by the examiner
  • Weber test: Lateralization of tone to one ear, indicating loss of hearing on that side (i.e., tone is heard in the poorer ear)
• Sensorineural hearing loss related to or evidenced by:
  • Congenital damage or malformations of the inner ear
  • Ménière’s disease
  • Ototoxic drugs (aminoglycosides, e.g., gentamicin or tobramycin; salicylates, e.g., aspirin)
  • Presbycusis (gradual hearing loss experienced in advancing age)
  • Serious infections (meningitis, measles, mumps, other viral, syphilis)
  • Trauma to the inner ear (related to exposure to noise in excess of 90 dB or as a result of physical trauma)
  • Tumor (e.g., acoustic neuroma, cerebellopontine angle tumor, meningioma)
  • Vascular disorders
  • Bing test: Pulsating sound that gets louder and softer when the opening to the ear canal is alternately opened and closed
  • Rinne test: Tone heard louder by air conduction
  • Schwabach test: Shortened duration of tone when compared to that heard by the examiner
  • Weber test: Lateralization of tone to one ear indicating loss of hearing on the other side (i.e., tone is heard in the better ear)