In a normal Rinne test, what result is expected?

In a normal Rinne test, what result is expected?

• A. Air conduction greater than bone conduction
• B. Bone conduction greater than air conduction
• C. Air conduction equal to bone conduction
• D. No conduction

Answer: (C)

Sound reaches the inner ear more effectively through the air pathway than through bone. In a healthy ear, air conduction exceeds bone conduction, so when you test with a tuning fork near the ear canal you hear it longer than when you place it on the mastoid. This is why the normal finding is air conduction greater than bone conduction. If bone conduction were louder or equal to air conduction, that would point to a conductive issue; no conduction would indicate a problem with the test or the ear.

Sound reaches the inner ear more effectively through the air pathway than through bone. In a healthy ear, air conduction exceeds bone conduction, so when you test with a tuning fork near the ear canal you hear it longer than when you place it on the mastoid. This is why the normal finding is air conduction greater than bone conduction. If bone conduction were louder or equal to air conduction, that would point to a conductive issue; no conduction would indicate a problem with the test or the ear.