Question

Which finding indicates that this patient has a sensorineural hearing loss?

a. The patient hears sound by air conduction longer than by bone conduction.
b. The patient hears sound from a vibrating tuning fork in the affected ear only.
c. The patient hears normal conversation at 40 dB and a whisper at 20 dB.
d. The patient hears the rubbing of fingers together from a distance of 4 inches from each ear.

Answer 1

The finding that indicates sensorineural hearing loss is if the patient hears the rubbing of fingers together from a distance of 4 inches from each ear, suggesting the air conduction pathway is intact while there is an impairment in the inner ear or associated neural structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Which finding indicates that this patient has a sensorineural hearing loss? The correct answer is:

• The patient hears the rubbing of fingers together from a distance of 4 inches from each ear.

During a Rinne test, conducted to distinguish between conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss, a vibrating tuning fork is placed on the mastoid process. If bone conduction (sound through the temporal bone) is better than air conduction (sound through the ossicles to the inner ear), this suggests a conductive hearing deficit. By contrast, with sensorineural hearing loss, the Weber test would typically show the tuning fork sounding quieter in the affected ear due to damage to the cochlea or associated nervous tissue. Therefore, when a patient still hears soft sounds such as fingers rubbing together at a normal threshold, it implies the pathway for air conduction is intact, suggesting sensorineural rather than conductive hearing loss if hearing impairment is present.