In conductive hearing loss, which tuning fork test result indicates the condition?

In the context of conductive hearing loss, the crucial aspect to understand is how sound conduction is affected by the structure of the ear. The tuning fork tests assess the pathways of hearing through air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC).

When bone conduction is greater than air conduction, indicated by BC > AC, it suggests that sound is being conducted better through the bone than through the air. This is characteristic of conductive hearing loss, where there is an obstruction or damage in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being transmitted effectively through air. Factors that may contribute to this include earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, or ossicular chain dysfunction.

In contrast, if air conduction were greater than or equal to bone conduction, this would not indicate a conductive hearing loss, as it typically suggests either normal hearing or sensorineural hearing loss, where there is a problem in the inner ear or auditory nerve that affects how sound is processed. Understanding these dynamics helps to accurately diagnose and manage different types of hearing impairments.