Expansion
Rinne negative, bone beats air, conductive loss is there, Weber runs to the bad ear when it's conductive
Mnemonic
“Weber goes to the conductive ear, away from the sensorineural”:
- Rinne positive (air better than bone) is normal or sensorineural
- Rinne negative (bone better than air) is conductive
- Weber central is normal or symmetrical loss
- Weber lateralising goes towards a conductive loss and away from a sensorineural one
| Weber | Rinne | Diagnosis |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Positive both | Normal |
| To the right | Negative right | Right conductive |
| To the left | Positive both | Right sensorineural |
The false negative Rinne is the trap: in a severe unilateral sensorineural loss, the opposite cochlea hears the bone conducted sound, mimicking a conductive picture. Weber resolves it, which is why the two tests are always done together.
Expansion
- Rinne negative - bone conduction greater than air conduction, conductive loss
- Weber toward the bad ear - suggests conductive loss on that side
- Weber toward the good ear - suggests sensorineural loss on the other side