Audiology: Weber in sensorineural loss: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Audiology: Weber in sensorineural loss

Sample item

A man has reduced hearing in his left ear. The Rinne test is positive in both ears and the Weber test is heard louder in the right ear. What is the most likely diagnosis?

ARight conductive hearing lossBRight sensorineural hearing lossCLeft sensorineural hearing lossDLeft conductive hearing loss

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Left sensorineural hearing loss

With sensorineural loss the cochlea or nerve on the affected side perceives bone-conducted sound poorly, so the Weber goes to the better ear. Rinne stays positive because air conduction is still better than bone conduction. So the left ear is the affected one.

Option by option

A. Right conductive hearing loss
A right conductive loss would give a negative Rinne on the right.
B. Right sensorineural hearing loss
The Weber would then lateralise to the left ear.
C. Left sensorineural hearing loss (correct)
Correct. Positive Rinne with Weber lateralising to the better (right) ear points to left sensorineural loss.
D. Left conductive hearing loss
A conductive loss would give a negative Rinne on the left and Weber toward the left.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Left sensorineural hearing loss. With sensorineural loss the cochlea or nerve on the affected side perceives bone-conducted sound poorly, so the Weber goes to the better ear.

Why is "Right conductive hearing loss" not the answer?

A right conductive loss would give a negative Rinne on the right.

Why is "Right sensorineural hearing loss" not the answer?

The Weber would then lateralise to the left ear.

Why is "Left conductive hearing loss" not the answer?

A conductive loss would give a negative Rinne on the left and Weber toward the left.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Audiology: Weber in sensorineural loss in ENT. Rinne stays positive because air conduction is still better than bone conduction. So the left ear is the affected one.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Audiology: Weber in sensorineural loss?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.