Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

In the Weber test, what result is considered abnormal?

1. Lateralization to one ear

2. No lateralization in either ear

3. Air conduction lasts longer than bone conduction

4. Bone conduction lasts longer than air conduction

The correct answer is: Lateralization to one ear

In the Weber test, lateralization of sound to one ear is seen as an abnormal result. This test is used primarily to assess hearing loss and differentiate between conductive and sensorineural types. In a normal scenario, sound is perceived equally in both ears, indicating that the auditory pathways are functioning properly. When a patient perceives sound more in one ear, it suggests that there may be an issue in that ear, either due to conductive hearing loss, where sound waves have difficulty passing through the outer or middle ear, or sensorineural hearing loss, which indicates an issue with the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This lateralization can guide healthcare providers in determining the underlying cause of hearing impairment, making it an important aspect of auditory assessment. In contrast, sound perceived equally in both ears indicates normal auditory function, while the duration of sound conduction, whether air or bone, pertains to other specific types of hearing tests, where greater air conduction time may suggest normal hearing or slight conductive loss, but does not indicate lateralization.